Walter John Darkins

An Engineman with H.M. Drifter Girl Rhoda, Walter died on 26th of September 1917 at the age of 33. 

Walter was born at Hopton on 4 December 1883, a son of Henry and Anna Darkins. In 1891 his family lived at The Street, Lound.  

In 1901 Walter was the cook on the trawler Content, LT 146, at Penzance. 

On 25 January 1912 Walter married Ethel Norah Knights at Christchurch, Lowestoft. Walter was a fisherman living at Rock Estate, Oulton, and Ethel lived at 7 Eastern Square, North Denes. They lived at 2 Hope Terrace, The Hemplands, Lowestoft. In 1920 Ethel married John Bull. 

Walter joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 26 January 1915 and served on the trawler Manzanita. On 24 April 1916 he joined the trawler Boy Charles and, from 1 July 1917, served on the drifter Girl Rhoda.  

Walter died at the Royal Navy Hospital Haslar from pyelitis uraemia. 

Walter’s brother George served in the Royal Naval Reserve and died in 1916.