From July 3rd to 14th, 1917, King George V and Queen Mary paid a Royal visit to the battlefields of France. With them was Staff-Sgt Walter J. Twidell, who prior to the outbreak of war resided with his parents Thomas and Lizzie at 30 Cardigan Street, Luton. As a shorthand clerk he was attached to the suite of Queen Mary on the visit.

Walter Twidell (pictured earlier in his Army career) enlisted in the R.A.M.C. (35693) in September 1914 and went to France the following December. Since January 1915 he had been employed as staff clerk to Surgeon General Sir Arthur Sluggett, Director General Medical Services and Chief Commissioner of the British Red Cross with the British Armies in France.

He was promoted to the rank of corporal in November 1915 and mentioned in despatches the following January. He was then promoted to sergeant in November 1916 and to staff-sergeant shortly before the 1917 Royal visit.

Prior to joining the Army Walter Twidell was clerk to Mr G. E. M. Walker in the offices of the South Beds Unionist Association, and was also honorary secretary of the Luton branch of the Junior Imperial League.

The September 25th, 1915 edition of the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph had contained a story in which the then Pte Twidell had come into possession of a letter taken from a German prisoner and which containing a remarkable prediction. After saying he hoped for an honourable peace with the war declared a draw, the writer then forecast a resumption of hostilities 20 years in the future with the aim of Germany driving Russia from Europe and England from command of the seas.