Walter King Peake was born in 1869 at Church Hill, Ellersmere, Shropshire, son of Rev. John Peake (Vicar at Ellersmere) and Matilda A. Peake who was born in Gibraltar.

Educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and commissioned in to the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berhshire Regiment), on the 9th November 1889 with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st June 1892.

He was promoted into the Worcestershire Regiment on the 20th June 1900 with the rank of Captain.

Married Hilda Mary B. Southwell in 1897 at Bridgenorth, Shropshire.

He was appointed Adjutant of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment, a position he held until 6th May 1907. Later the same year on the 4th December he retired on retired pay.

On the 1st April 1908, when the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment was re-designated to be the 8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.

On the 18th March, 1911, he retired to the Reserve of Officers and given the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel at the same time he was given command of the 8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.

He took the 1/8th Battalion to France on the 31st March 1915, landing at Boulogne during the night.

On 12th September 1916, Lieut.-Colonel W. K. Peake was invalided home from the Somme.
On the 29th Jan. 1917, he was promoted to the substantive rank of Major but still held the acting rank of Lieut.-Colonel. On the 12th June 1917 he was promoted to the substantive rank of Lieut.-Colonel.

On the 20th July 1917, he was given command of the 4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, which he commanded until 5th August 1918 when he was promoted to rank of Colonel.

Colonel W. K. Peake