Colin Boyd has provided the following:
William was born on 10th March 1897. He was living with his parents, Roland and Dorothy at 8, Hotspur Street, Backworth when he enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers on 11th December 1915. He was an Army Reservist having had previous service in the East Yorkshire Regiment.
William transferred to the RNVR on 16th June 1917 and joined the Drake Battalion on 28th August 1917. He was hospitalised on 30th December 1917 suffering from Neurasthenia and rejoined the Drake Battalion on 29th January 1918.
William was hospitalised again on 26th March 1918 suffering from a gun shot wound to the right wrist.
After rejoining the Drake Battalion the Drake Battalion on 15th May 1918 William was killed in action on 30th May 1918.
William Wilkinson Southall is remembered in Backworth on B1.01
