2nd Lieutenant, 17th Battalion Royal Fusiliers.
Killed in action 27th September 1918. age 20.
Buried at Sanders Keep Military Cemetery, France.
Student of chemistry.
William was born on 27th November 1897. Very little is known about him, but we know that he attended Taunton School and entered Hulme Hall in October 1915 as resident 444 to study for a science degree in chemistry. His father is noted as living in Blackpool at the time. In April 1918 the diary of the 17th Battalion Royal Fusiliers record that he joined them along with 11 other officers. On 27th September 1918, as part of the allied advance that was to lead to the end of the war, William’s unit was involved in an attack on the Canal du Nord, lock 7. They reached their objective at 9am and shortly after an enemy aeroplane flew over the canal and dropped bombs. Three bombs made a direct hit on the canal and killed William and three of his men.
The 1922 Roll of Service is split into two sections: those who are known to have died and those who are known to have served and were presumed to have survived. William is incorrectly listed in the latter section. He is not listed on the main University memorial.