Robert Holliday Walker was born at Cockfield 10 October 1892 to Smart and Mary Walker.  He was baptised 6 November 1892 at Cockfield. In 1901 the family lived at Main Street Cockfield.  He attended Cockfield C. of E. School then County School living at Coronation Terrace. In 1911, he was an apprentice chemist living at Chestnut House, Cockfield.  Older sister Mary Annie was a schoolteacher at Cockfield.  Also boarding there was schoolteacher Miss Nettleton.

In February 1916, he joined RAMC at Aldershot, service no. 97115 and 24 November 1916 was posted to 335 Field Ambulance at Herne Bay.  He was promoted to Corporal 24 August 1917.  He served a total of 2 years 349 days in the UK.

In 1924 he married Henrietta Greveson at Guisborough.