William enlisted into the 2nd Northumbrian Divisional Field Ambulance, TF on the 9th January 1915 and was attached to the 2/2nd Northumbrian Field Ambulance. He was 41 years and 3 months old, married to Mary Ann, and a coal hewer by trade, at Lumley Pit, Co. Durham. On the 5th March he joined the British Expeditionary Force and embarked at Southampton on the 11th, aboard S.S. Queen Empress, disembarking at Rouen the next day. On the 10th May, William was sent as part of a reinforcement to serve with the 83rd (Home Counties) Field Ambulance and served with them in the field until the 12th September 1915, when he was transferred to serve with the 86th [1/2nd Northumbrian] Field Ambulance and went with them to Salonika on the 26th November, they arrived the next month. On the 17th January 1917, William was sent to the 28th Division Base Depot and was employed as a storeman, he also served with No 1 Base Depot from 13th March until 19th April, when he was then sent as an attachment to serve with the 2/3rd Northumbrian Field Ambulance. William was granted leave to the UK and proceeded by train on his journey home on the 29th July 1918. He rejoined the unit on the 23rd September, and served with them in various Aid Posts until the end of the war. [Information source: Service record and family [Photograph courtesy of family)]