Walter Yuill Anderson was born in Campsie, Stirlingshire ¹, Scotland on 9 October 1861. He was the son of John Anderson (b. 1824), a contractor, and Jane Yuill (b. 1824) who both hailed from Neilston, Renfrewshire and who had married in their home town on 29 December 1848.

He had six known siblings: Catherine Ferguson (b. 1849), Agnes Whitlaw (b. 1852), John (b. 1853), Margaret Yuill (b. 1855) and Isabella Ann Brodie (b. 1864). Another brother, also named Walter Yuill, was born in 1858 but died in infancy.

In the months prior to his birth and when the 1861 census was conducted Walter's family were listed at Haughed in Campsie, Stirlingshire. Walter finally appears on the 1871 census when he was living with his family at 80 St James Road, Glasgow, Lanarkshire and would still be at the same address when the 1881 census was taken, he then being described, like his father, as a contractor. The family would have moved to 119 Montrose Street, Glasgow by the time of the 1891 census but Walter was not listed, perhaps already at sea.

When Walter appeared on the 1911 census, then living in England, he was residing at 12 Queens Park Terrace, St Mary, Southampton and was described as an unmarried ship's steward. Also residing at this address as Titanic steward Joseph Thomas Wheat.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as 12 Queen's Terrace, Southampton. His last ship had been the Olympic. As a bedroom steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s.

Walter Anderson died in the sinking; his body, which was later recovered by the Mackay-Bennett (#146), was buried at sea on 24 April 1912.