William Holton was born in Framingham in 1896. He was the son of William Holton and Eliza Cracknell. William had a sister, Mabel Eliza, born in 1898. In 1901, the family was living in New Street, Woodbridge, near to the Bell and Steelyard Inn. By 1911 they had moved to 2 Prospect Place on Melton Hill and William junior was working as an errand boy. William was conscripted in 1916 and joined the Mercantile Marine Reserve. He was posted to serve aboard the SS Gosforth which had been requisitioned by the Admiralty in February 1917 to act as a stores carrier and fleet messenger for the British Aegean Squadron.

In December 1918, William became ill and was taken onboard the Hospital Ship Karapara where he was treated for bronchial pneumonia. Sadly, he passed away while onboard on the 10th December 1918. William’s body was taken ashore at Mudros on the Greek island of Lemnos and buried in the East Mudros Military Cemetery. His sister, Mabel, had the following added to his gravestone;

"Though Seas Divide Sweet Memories Cling”

For his war service, William’s family received his British War and Victory Medals.