Joseph Edgar was the son of Joseph and Rosa Walker (née Mayfield).
His father was born in Osgathorpe, Leicestershire, in about 1861 and his mother in Blyth, Nottinghamshire, in about 1866, the daughter of John and Frances Mayfield. Joseph and Rosa were married at Nottingham (Meadows) St Saviour in April 1884 and had eight children, one of whom died in infancy or childhood. Their surviving children were: Joseph Edgar b. 22 July 1884 bap. Nottingham St John 20 September 1885, Cecilia b. 1886 bap. St John 1886, Minnie May birth registered 1889 bap Nottingham St George 1892, Grace Annie b. 1892 bap St George 1892, Elijah George (George) b. 1897, Gladys Rose Edna b. 1899 and Charles Wilfred b. 1901.
In 1891, Joseph, a railway goods guard, Rosa and their three children, Joseph, Cecilia and Minnie, were living at 2 Sherwood Cottages, Goodhead Street, Meadows. They had moved to 10 Castleton Street, Meadows, by the following year when Minnie and Grace were baptised.
However, in 1901 Joseph, a foreman railway porter, Rosa and their seven children, Joseph a coal miner hewer, Cecilia a cigar packer (factory), Minnie, Grace, George, Gladys and Charles were at Sceptre Terrace, 23 Park Lane, Old Basford.
By 1911 the family was living at 17 Churchill Street, Old Lenton, Nottingham. Only Grace, George, Gladys and Charles were still living with their parents. Cecilia had married George Varney (KIA 1917) in 1905 and they and their two children, Rosa and George, were living at 18 Churchill Street, Old Lenton. Minnie had married William Beetles in 1907 and they and their two sons, William and Ernest, were living off Hartley Road, Radford. Joseph had joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1903 and was serving at Portsmouth aboard HMS Superb.
Rosa Walker died in 1914 and her husband Joseph in July 1922.
Joseph Edgar married Bertha Caroline Basten in 1915 (reg. Alverstoke Hants). Bertha was born in 1888, the daughter of George and Caroline Basten. In 1911 she was a shop assistant and living with her parents on Mitcham Road, Tooting, London. Joseph and Bertha had one child, Ivy Adelaide Ruby b. 1916.
The CWGC record gave Bertha's address as 41 Lyveden Road, Tooting, London. Bertha did not remarry and died in 1955.