Walter John Garrett

Story:
Walter John Garrett was born in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, on 2 Sep 1896 the son of Henry Maidment Garrett and Clara Ann Maidment (nee Matthews).  He lived his early life in either Underhill, East Knoyle or Leigh Lane, East Knoyle.   Though working as a Gardener he had enlisted in the Royal Navy on 2 Nov 1915 as a Cook's Mate (Service No. M16514).  He served mainly on HMS Vincent, a Dreadnought Battleship, used mainly as a support vessel. He was discharged on 11 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  The 1921 Census shows him boarding at The Bothy, Wilderness Gardens, Seal, Bodiam, Kent, working there in the gardens. He married Norah Grace Bartholemew in Maidstone, Kent, during 1925.  By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to Barn Hill, Maidstone, Kent, still working as a Gardener and a Voluntary ARP Warden.  He had moved to 17 Silver Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, by the time of his death on 25 Dec 1962.  His brother, Ethelbert Henry Garrett, also served in the conflict.