He was Patrol Leader of the 1st Bedlington Scout Troop.
Carole Fife has provided the following:
William was born in Bedlington in 1897, the third son of David and Elizabeth Smith. In 1901 the family were living in Ridge Terrace, Bedlington, but by 1911 they had moved to 14, Telephone Row. William is named in the 1911 census as Willie, which was transcribed as Hillie. His father was a Deputy Overman and in 1911 William was a rope boy down the pit.
By the time William enlisted the family had moved to 4, Shiney Row. William enlisted in Newcastle and his legatee was his mother, which would indicate that he wasn't married.
He is remembered in Bedlington on B15.02, B15.06, B15.20 and on B15.26 page 38
