Royal Garrison Artillery badge
Royal Garrison Artillery badge
Royal Garrison Artillery 124884 and 326784
Walter was born in May 1878 in Romsey, Hampshire, the son of Alice Viney. He had two brothers, William and Frank. By 1891, aged 13, he was a servant working for a wealthy merchant in Wiltshire and in 1901 he was a gardener in Friern Barnet, Middlesex. By 1911 he had found employment at Spratton Hall as a gardener for Lord Erskine and was boarding with John and Elizabeth Crane in Yew Tree Lane, Spratton. On 1 February 1912 he married Alice Maud Potter at Church End, Finchley.
Walter joined up on 9 December 1915 aged 37 under Lord Derby’s scheme. He was in the Reserves until October 1916 when he was called up for Home Front duties. He was sent to France from May 1917 to May 1919 as a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He served for 3 years 245 days and was demobbed on 17 June 1919 with a medical category of A1.
Walter was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.