Biography:
Walter Evelyn Park, known as Bob to his family, was born 27 July 1891, the second son of Lieutenant Colonel Laurence Parke (H 1874-1877) and Evelyn Jane Aelfrida, daughter of T Evans Lees of Oldham. His elder brother was Laurence Stanley Parke - he attended Wellington College - and his younger brother was Lieutenant John Aubrey Parke (B 1906-1911) Durham Light Infantry who was killed in October 1915 (see individual entry).
Walter came to Winchester College from Mr. Pellat's school at Langton Matravers in September 1905 and was in B House, Moberly's. He played for Lords XI in his second year and was largely responsible for the victory over Eton that same year, scoring 49 and 46 not out. He captained the team in 1909, played golf for the school in 1908 and 1909 and his last year was appointed a Commoner Prefect. His obituary in Wisden described him as 'very short, but one of the best batsmen turned out by the College for many years'.
He left Winchester in December 1909 and passed through RC Sandhurst. At the outbreak of war he was serving in the Durham Light Infantry and proceeded to France with them early in the campaign, being mentioned in one of Lord French's Despatches.
Walter was killed while commanding the machine gun section of his battalion near Outtersteene in the early afternoon of 13 October 1914 and was buried at the Vieux Berquin crossroads. A photograph exists which shows his grave being tended by two young French girls. He now lies in Grave I.E.10 of Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul. He received a posthumous Mention in Despatches in January 1915.