Colin Boyd has provided the following:
William was born on 24th December 1890 and was working as a warehouseman living with his mother, Margaret at 80, Bewicke Street, Willington Quay when he enlisted in the Royal Naval Division on 11th November 1914.
He joined 'C' Company of the Hawke Battalion on 3rd May 1915 and was invalided to the UK on 17th July 1915 suffering from a bayonet wound to the right arm.
William rejoined the Hawke Battalion on 29th February 1916 and was invalided to the UK again on 13th September 1916 suffering from Pyrexia.
He qualified as a 1st Class Machine Gunner and joined the 223rd Machine Gun Company in France on 3rd November 1917 and served until 27th December 1917 when he was hospitalised with Trench Foot.
William joined the 63rd Machine Gun Battalion on 1st April 1918 and was then hospitalised again with Pyrexia on 10th June 1918.
William rejoined the Battalion on 1st October 1918 and was killed in action the following day.
