William enlisted on 24th July 1906. He was 19 years and 5 months old at the time. He entered the war in France on 13th August 1914 as part of the Regimental Medical Officer's team for the 2nd Bn. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and served on the Western Front until 18th November 1914. He was discharged on the 18th January 1915 due to sickness.