William was born in Dolberrow, in 1898.  He was the fifth of the six children of Barnard and Jane who had married in 1889.  Although born into a family of masons in Dolberrow, Barnard became a carpenter and in the 1911 census when he, Jane and their two youngest children were living at Langford Green, his occupation was give as “estate carpenter”, so he was probably employed at Langford Court. In 1918, when William died, Barnard and Jane were living in Laburnum Cottage, Stock, most probably in the house of that name in Redshard Lane.  They remained there until Barnard died in 1931.

William was killed in action on the 27^th March 1918. He had enlisted in Axbridge in August 1915 with the Royal Army Service Corps (140579), transferring to the London Regiment, Royal Fusiliers, A- Company, 9^th Battalion, 15684. He had been wounded in action in April, 1917, and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial Panel 19-21.  The Weston Mercury carried a report and tribute on April 20^th and a photograph of William the following week.  He had just celebrated his 20^th birthday.