Ron Carson has provided the following.
William was born in the fourth quarter of 1892 at Newcastle upon Tyne, the nephew of James Birkett of 113 Porter Street, Byker.
According to the 1911 Census, he was living at 109 Shipley Street, Byker as head of the household, along with his adopted brother and uncle. He was employed as a ‘Sutton express courier’.
William enlisted with ‘D’ Company, 19th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and died overseas of disease on 20 October 1916, aged 25.
William Robert Birkett is remembered in Byker on B95.17 and in the Battalion History