Walter Phillimore was born in Droxford, Hampshire on 7 September 1915, the son of Charles Augustus and Alice Phillimore and grandson of Admiral Sir Augustus Phillimore. He was educated at Durlston, Langton Matravers, Swanage, Dorset and joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet at Britannia Royal Naval College on 1 May 1929. He was the thirteenth member of the family to serve in the Royal Navy.

During the autumn term of 1930 he came first in Maths exams and collected a prize book – Scotts Last Expedition. At Christmas 1932 WAP completed his eleventh term with a First Class Pass. He gained distinctions in his final maths, history and English exams and was duly awarded three prizes of books of plays by Galsworthy and Shakespeare.

He was promoted to Midshipman on 1 September 1933 and was appointed to the battleship HMS MALAYA on 2 September 1933. On 1 September 1934 he was appointed to the cruiser HMS EMERALD. He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 16 May 1936.

The Navy List dated January 1937 reported his appointment to HMS DOLPHIN for the Submarine Course. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 16 April 1937. Lieutenant Phillimore was appointed to HMS PHOENIX as Third Officer on 28 March 1938. He was appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MEDWAY on 23 August 1940 and to HMS OBERON as First Lieutenant on 10 January 1941.

He took his Commanding Officers Qualifying Course from 30 June 1941, and, on successful completion of the course, he was appointed to HMS H34 in command from 15 September 1941 to 18 January 1942. H34 completed one war patrol in the Bay of Biscay from 26 December 1941 to 1 January 1942.

The date of his appointment to HMS P514 in command is yet to be established but may have been on 9 March 1942. On 20 June 1942, P514 left the Canadian village of Argentia bound for St Johns, Newfoundland. HMCS GEORGIAN, unaware that any friendly submarines were in the area, rammed her in error off Cape Race and P514 was lost with all hands.

Walter Phillimore is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Panel 52, Column 1 and in St Mary’s Church at Swinbrook, Oxfordshire.