Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry John Cook, born 1863 in Rushall, Wiltshire and his wife Sarah Cook, born 1859 in Gravesend, Kent. Walter Spencer was born in the 1st quarter of 1885 in Brook Street, Barracks, Birmingham, Warwickshire. In March 1901 Walter was employed as a grocer’s apprentice and was residing as a boarder at 251, High Street, Aldershot, Hampshire. In April 1911 Walter was employed as a motor driver and was residing as a boarder in Burton Overy, Leicestershire, in the home of Sarah Sander, a charwoman, born 1860 in Gravesend, Kent, and her son Alexander Hubbard, born 1898 in Forest Gate, Essex, Alexander was to die of wounds received in action in 1918, and is also commemorated on the war memorial in St. Andrew’s Church, Burton Overy. Walter’s parents were residing as servants in the employ of George Walkins Yardley and his wife Florence Julia, of Burton Overy, his father was a domestic butler, and his mother was a domestic cook. Latterly his parents resided at “Mount Pleasant”, Burton Overy. Walter Herbert married Hilda Stevenson in the 3rd quarter of 1916 in the Patrington, Yorkshire district. Hilda was born in the 3rd quarter of 1896 in Patrington Haven, Yorkshire.
(The family information collated from census returns, birth, marriage and death records, although appearing to relate to this casualty, cannot be fully and conclusively corroborated with presently available information, and therefore may not relate to this casualty and/or his family.)
The War Diary records: 28 Sept-17 - HILL 37. Shelling not quite so heavy as previous days. Periods of comparative quiet. Back areas bombarded with high explosive and gas shells at night. 2nd Lt. L. ROWBATHAN died of wounds, 2nd Lt. S. W. G. TALLIS wounded.