Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Merry, a gardener, born 1851 in Oxfordshire and his wife Ann Merry, (nee Day, married in the 2nd quarter of 1878 in the Witney, Oxfordshire district) , born 1856 in Hinton Waldrist, Berkshire. Walter Edward, a schoolboy was born in the 4th quarter of 1885 in Ash, Derbyshire and was baptised on the 3rd January 1886 in the parish church, Sutton on the Hill, Derbyshire, his siblings were, Eveline Harriett, a schoolgirl, born 1879, Alice Maud, a schoolgirl, born 1881, George Frederick, a schoolboy, born 1883 and Florence Daisy, born 1888, all his siblings were born in Ash, in April 1891 the family home was at Ash, Derbyshire. In March 1901 Walter was employed as a gardener’s apprentice and was residing in the family home at Ash Hall Gardens, Derbyshire, together with his father, a domestic gardener, his mother and siblings, George, a gardener’s apprentice, Florence and Emma Lilian, born 9th July 1892 in Ash, Derbyshire. In April 1911 Walter was absent from the family home in Ash, Derbyshire, residing there was his father, a domestic gardener, his mother and sister Emma. Walter married Mary Jane Wardle on the 8th April 1912 in the parish church, Sutton on the Hill, Derbyshire, Mary was born on the 23rd April 1882 in Sutton on the Hill. They had three children, Gwendolen Mary, born 15th June 1913, Walter Roy, born 9th January 1915 and Albert Edward, born 7th August 1916, all the children were born in the Blaby, Leicestershire district. In 1939 Walter’s widow was residing in the family home at 189, Canon Street, Leicester, together with her children, Gwendolen, a shorthand typist, Walter, a gardener and Albert a shoe trade booking clerk. Walter died of the wounds he received in action in the 8th General Hospital, Rouen on the 15th December 1917, he was awarded the British War and Victory medals.