 Walpole was born in Auckland , New Zealand , the eldest of three children of the <unk> Somerset Walpole and his wife , Mildred Helen , née <unk> ( 1854 – 1925 ) . Somerset Walpole had been an assistant to the Bishop of Truro , Edward Benson , from 1877 until 1882 , when he was offered the <unk> of St Mary 's Pro @-@ Cathedral , Auckland ; on Benson 's advice he accepted . 
