William was born on 17th June 1893 in Stone, Dartford, Kent to parents Baldwin and Alice. Recorded on the 1901 census, William, aged seven, lived at 4 Blue House Cottage, Stone along with 4 other brothers, two older and two younger boys.
He joined the Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 18th October 1909, beginning his training at HMS GANGES. William was noted as being 5'7" tall with light brown hair, grey eyes, a scar on his right knee and a scarred left thumb.
HMS GANGES - 18/010/1909 - 01/07/1910, rising to Boy 1st Class on 01/06/1910
HMS DONEGAL - 02/07/1910 - 02/10/1910
HMS PEMBROKE I - 03/10/1910 - 14/01/1911
HMS TRIUMPH - 15/01/1911 - 09/05/1912, rising to Ordinary Seaman 17/06/1911. He was aboard the Battleship during the 1911 census which was anchored at Valletta Harbour in Malta
HMS QUEEN - 10/05/1912 - 02/06/1913, rising to Able Seaman on 21/10/1912
HMS PEMBROKE I - 03/06/1913 - 26/11/1913
HMS VANGUARD - 27/11/1913 - 09/07/1917
Following his death, Walter’s Star, Victory and British war medals were claimed by his father. Walter is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
(#82 - 785/843)
Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Free BMD
1901 & 1911 England Census
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 658
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: Piece 010; Piece Description: Piece 010 (1914 - 1919)
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/10; Scan Number: 0883
CWGC Register
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 118