Family poverty following the death of his father when Walter was just one year old probably led to Walter joining the Royal Fusiliers Special Reserve in 1913 when he was 17 and served in World War I. His military career continued when Walter enlisted in the RAF in 1923, serving for four years, including in Palestine. And he was still young enough to serve in the army when war broke out again in 1939.
But life for Walter took a darker turn after the war.
Edward’s twin brother died in World War 1 but Edward survived. He was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre in the process but at what cost to himself and to his family?
His son David begins to understand his father’s emotional distance.
Colour Sergeant Clifford Walter Emptage was a career soldier who served in the 21st London Regiment.
He was a specialist in machine guns. When invalided out of France in 1915 he continued to serve as a training instructor.
Sergeant Cyril George Emptage was a career soldier who served in the Machine Gun Corps, which became the Royal Tank Regiment during World War One.
He was killed in the battle of Lys in April 1918.
