William was born in Chillesford, Suffolk, on 26th August 1894, the eldest son of Alfred and his wife, Elvina. In 1911, the family was living at Major Moor’s Farm on Bredfield Road, Melton. William was working as a stockman.

William is recorded in Booth’s Almanack of 1915 and 1916 as serving in the Army Service Corps, however, there are no further identifiable records available regarding his war service.

In 1920, William married Minnie Mansfield in Bromley, Kent, and together they returned to the Melton and Woodbridge area. In 1939, they were living in Castle Street, Woodbridge, with their two children. William died in 1972.