William enlisted into the R.A.M.C. (T.F.) on 24th April 1912. He was 19 years and 7 months old; was a Bottle Hand by trade, working for Dixon Nuttall & Co; and was living at 5 Dorothy Street, Lancashire at the time. He was embodied into the 3rd West Lancashire Divisional Field Ambulance on 5th August 1914, when war broke out. William served in the UK and his term of service had expired, but he was retained in service under the Military Service Act. He embarked at Southampton on 25th June 1916, then disembarking at Rouen the next day, he entered the war in France on 26th June 1916. He joined the Base Depot at Rouen until 21st July, when he became attached to the 63rd (West Lancashire) Field Ambulance and joined them ‘in the field’. He was killed east of the Ypres-Menin Road, near Hooge, at the same spot as Pte Alexander Cameron Ellacott, whilst bringing in wounded. William was the son of Sarah Martindale of 118 Elephant Lane, St. Helens, Lancs.