Walter George Rofe 1898 – 1994
Walter was born on 10th March 1898 in Shepherdswell, to Walter Sion Rofe, a groom, and Annie Elizabeth (née Poisden). In 1909, the Dover Express reported that he had obtained a scholarship to Dover County School.
His father died in 1910, aged around 47. The family lived at 2 Dorchester Cottages, with Walter working as a tool grinder.
It is known that Walter joined the Royal Navy initially in June 1913 as a Boy II, service no. J25276. On enlisting, he was described as being 5’ 0” tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. By 1927 when he had completed his service, he had grown to 5’ 6½”. He had served on many ships, sometimes on multiple occasions, including Ganges, Pembroke I, Digby, Cambrian, Agamemnon and Canterbury
He married Violet Hilda Tickner in 1934 in the Ipswich district. To date, they have not been found on the 1939 Register.
They subsequently lived at Mayfair, 67 Westcourt Lane, with Violet dying in 1983 and Walter in 1994.