He was born on the 15th July 1882 at 18 Marchmont Terrace, Edinburgh. Part of his school days were spent at the
Royal High School and he was swimming champion possibly in his last year there.
It is thought that he joined the Royal Artillery in about 1899 and on the 9th may 1902 he sent the following telegram
addressed to Cresser, 86 West Bow, Edinburgh. "Sail for Africa tomorrow morning. I am going over to Barking now.
Walter". It was sent from Woolwich where the headquarters of the Royal Artillery were situated. We know that he
was stationed at Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow about 1906 because there is a post card addressed in flamboyant writing to Robert
Macpherson Esq. who was then 1 1/2 years old. The post card is a photograph of Lance Corporal Walter Cresser still
wearing a Royal Artillery cap badge but no medal ribbons therefore he was improperly dressed. Not like him in my memory
of Uncle Walter.
The next photograph is dated 1st August 1917 and has obviously been taken on active service in France. Walter is
with his younger brother David who was serving with the New Zealand Army as a Sergeant. Walter was now (1st August 1917)
a Company Sergeant Major (in the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment) and wearing the following medal ribbons. Military
Medal, Queens South African Medal, Kings South African Medal and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. To qualify
for the last medal he must have had 18 years continuous service which indicates that he joined up in 1899.
Another photograph on a post card which has a post mark dated 16th March 1919 shows him as a Warrant Officer in the same
regiment. Unfortunately for us he is wearing an overcoat obscuring any medal ribbons which must by then have included
2 medals at least for the 1914-1918 war.
Walter was a most interesting personality and regrettably the rest of his life has not been reliably noted. Partly
because he seldom visited his home town of Edinburgh. The last that was heard of him was from a lady thought to be named
Craig whom he had married. I remember telling him telling my mother that he was going to marry and she was not to worry,
as there would not be any children. This lady contacted the Cressers and his brother Colin went to the funeral service
somewhere near Oxford. I have a note that he died on 13th May 1929 but have no idea from where I got that information.
Notes from Robert Cresser Macpherson
