Walter was born in Gosport, Hampshire on 21 February 1891 the first child of the five sons of Walter (Ex-CPO RN with 30 years service) and Susan Florence (née Beizley) House. The father was discharged from the Navy in 1906 (time served) and the family moved to Dumbleton, Gloucestershire. He was retained under RFR and served again 1914 to 1917.

Walter entered the Royal Navy when he crossed the gangway of HMS IMPREGNABLE, the boys training ship moored in Devonport dockyard, on 12 December 1906 and became a Boy Second Class. On 10 June 1907 he was advanced to Boy First Class with a draft to HMS HOGUE on 21 January 1908 for sea training. A two week visit to HMS VIVID 1 on 10 May and a draft to HMS DONEGAL on 25 May, was followed on 13 June 1908 by a draft to HMS COMMONWEALTH where on board he was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 21 February 1909. He returned to VIVID 1 on 25 May, then to HMS TERRIBLE on 31 July, HMS CAMBRIAN on 1 September 1909 and was advanced to Able Seaman on 14 July 1910. He was drafted on 16 September 1911 to the cruiser HMS GIBRALTAR with a return to VIVID 1 on 4 November 1911. On 8 January 1912 he had a draft to HMS DEFIANCE from where he volunteered for service in submarines with a draft to HMS FORTH, the submarine depot ship, for the submarine HMS B2 on 21 May 1912.

B2 was on surface transit 4 nautical miles North East of Dover while taking part in a “Dover Defence Force” exercise involving surface ships and several submarines. In the early hours of the 4 October 1912 she was involved in a collision with the merchant ship SS AMERIKA that struck the submarine just forward of the conning tower and  the submarine disappeared very quickly with only one crew member surviving. B2 was not salvaged and today is the tomb of the other 15 crew members.

Able Seaman Walter Charles HOUSE,  Age 21, Svc No. 237898 had “Crossed The Bar” with 14 of his fellow crew members.