Walter was born in Mansfield Woodhouse in Nottinghamshire and enlisted at Mansfield. He was the son of Harry and Rebecca Bennet and the husband of Lily Bennet. Together they lived at 52 Albion Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and had two daughters named Evelyn Mary and Lilian Maisie. 

Walter was sadly killed in action near Pontruet, during the advance towards St Helene, France on the 24th September 1918 at the age of 38 years. He is buried in the Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, I.J.8 France