William joined the RAMC as a Private, at the age of seventeen. He entered the war in France on 18th November 1915. He was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery in the field on 29/30th July 1916. The war diary records - "Dive Copse July 28/29: Orders received to send men of the Fd Division 100FA to Bernafay Wood north end to relieve some of the exhausted bearers - 40 NCOs and men sent up at 5.30pm. The bearers returned this evening, being reported as having done excellent work, Reports from the OC Bearers Division states that the NCOs and men are working splendidly and mentions Privates Guthrie, Gould, Willis, Scribben, Thomas and Gallewski as showing particular coolness, courage and a fine example amongst the men." then at "Dive Copse July 30th: OC Bearers reports that the bearers twice failed to get through to the 2nd Ox & Bucks Regt to evacuate their wounded owing to the intensity of the shelling so Lieut P.J. Lane was sent with eight squads to see what he could do. He managed to get three squads through safely and after waiting for an opportunity the remaining squads were pushed through later in the evening and all cases were collected and evacuated. Lieut Lane's action was an extremely plucky one and in connection with this Cpl Walton and Pte Robbins of No 6FA are mentioned as being very (*** illegible) and helpful in their work and a fine example to the other men." It also states ""I think in this place I should mention the exemplary courage and cool behaviour under most trying circumstances of Pte Guthrie and Pte Gould of 100FA these men were of great assistance in their fine example, volunteering for any dangerous commission when volunteers were called for. When infantrymen, RAMC and men of many other units had been reduce to physical wrecks and in tears through the intense shelling, the bravery of these men shone out like a beacon light." Lieut Colonel (Name unrecognisable) OC 100 Field Ambulance. William was appointed acting Lance Corporal on October 10th 1916; acting Corporal on June 21st 1917; and acting Sergeant on January 23rd 1918. After the war he returned home to Dunbarton, Scotland. He died during 1974 in Helensburgh, Scotland [Photograph and Information researched kindly provided by William's family]