Edward Walter Zappert was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on 29 October 1914, the son of Walter Benjamin and Emily Grace Zappert (née Granger). He was appointed Temporary Sub Lieutenant (Special Branch), RNVR, on 20 March 1941 and, on 27 March 1941 he was appointed to HMS SPARROWHAWK – the Fleet Air Arm Station in the Orkneys.

In April 1942 he was appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS AMBROSE and, by June 1943 he was serving at HMS HANNIBAL – the RN Base at Algiers. His next appointment was to the Free French Submarine FFS LA PERLE as the Liaison Officer in August 1943. FFS LA PERLE underwent a refit in the United States from February 1944. He then transferred to the Free French Submarine FFS ARCHIMEDE until 23 March 1944. when he rejoined FFS LA PERLE.

Walter Zappert died on 8 July 1944 when the submarine was sunk with all hands in the Atlantic while returning from refitting in the United States. LA PERLE was mistaken for a U-boat by an aircraft from the British Merchant Aircraft Carrier EMPIRE MACCALLUM and was sunk.

Walter Zappert was the husband of Lilian Eileen Georgina Zappert (née Dubois) of Wembley, Middlesex. They had married in 1939 and there was one son. Edward Zappert is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial on Panel 79 Column 2.