Willie enlisted on 20th May 1915. He was 19 years and 1 month old; married; a Weaver by trade; and was living at 45 New Market Street, Colne at the time. He joined at Birmingham on the same day. On 3rd March 1917 he was transferred to ‘C’ Coy, and embarked at Southampton. Disembarking the next day at Rouen as a reinforcement, he entered the war in France on 4th March 1917. He was posted to serve with the 141st Field Ambulance, joining them in the field on 21st March. On 3rd May 1917 he was admitted ‘sick’ into the hospital of his unit and evacuated to No 48 Casualty Clearing Station. He was immediately evacuated to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen, via No 24 Ambulance Train, arriving the next day. On 24th May 1917, he was posted to serve with No 25 Stationary Hospital. He was admitted ‘sick’ into No 9 General Hospital on 4th June 1917, but this time was evacuated back to England. He was discharged on 31st October 1917 “no longer physically fit for war service” due to "VDH", aggravated but not believed to be caused by war service. Willie died of heart failure. He was the son of Frank and Letitia Poole.