 Hammond was born on 19 June 1903 in Dover . His parents , William — a corporal in the Royal Garrison Artillery — and Marion Hammond ( née Crisp ) , lived in the married quarters at Dover Castle where Walter was born . They had wed the previous December . Hammond spent his early years in Dover , often playing cricket . When he was five years old , his father was posted to Hong Kong to serve on the China Station and promoted to sergeant . The family remained there until 1911 , followed by a posting to Malta until 1914 . Hammond later recalled playing cricket in Malta using improvised equipment , including a soldier 's old bat which he believed taught him to strike the ball powerfully . 
