William was born on 5th September 1897 in Marton, Blackpool, Lancashire to Thomas, a brickyard labourer and Emma. William was the 5th child born and had 8 brothers and sisters and was baptised at St. Paul’s Parish Church, Marton on 24th October 1897.

In 1897 the family were living on ‘The Moss’, Midgeland Rd., Marton, Blackpool in a four roomed house. During this period, ‘The Moss’ had no official numbering of dwellings. According to a Local Authority study There were approximately 5 or 6 small cottages made of cobble set on rising ground above the swamps.

In 1901 the family had moved and William was living at 6 Rosary Avenue, Marton with his parents and six siblings, Elizabeth Ann (14), Henry (11), Emily (9), James (6), William (4) and Robert (1).

It is unknown when William attested as the records do not appear to have survived but he was enlisted in to the 37th Reserve Battery of the Royal Field Artillery. During WW1,The Royal Field Artillery provided mobile medium - calibre guns and Howitzers near the front lines which provided firepower to support the infantry. These guns were capable of both direct and indirect fire and were responsible for barrage fire prior to the infantry moving. The RFA were the largest branch of the British Army’s artillery and participated in major battles across the Western Front, Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Italy and other theatres of war.

William was reported as wounded on the War Office Daily List No: 5422. The incident occurred on 21 November 1917 and authorised him to wear a ‘wound stripe’ under Army Order 204. We do not know for certain which battle he was wounded in but on that date his battery was involved in the Battle of Cambrai which commenced on 20th November 1917 and ended on 16th December 1917 resulting in over 12,000 British and Commonwealth casualties.

William was sent to the Military War Hospital, Dustan, Northampton where he was treated. As he wasn’t married, he was sent home to his parents who now lived at 33, Crossland Rd, Marton, Blackpool.

William sadly died at home on 29th September 1918 and his pension card and soldiers’ effects log states the cause of death as ‘disease’. His brother, Henry was also killed on 28th June 1917 in Alsace, France and his name is inscribed on The Arras Memorial at Fauberg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras.

William has an inscription on the Blackpool War Memorial and is buried in Marton (St. Paul) Church Burial Ground. Blackpool. Lancashire. Plot V111. Grave no. 55.