William enlisted on 25th February 1915 and was embodied into the East Anglian Casualty Clearing Station, Territorial Force. He was 29 years and 2 months old, and was living at 102 Sandy Mount Road, Wath-on-Dearne at the time. He embarked on the "Royal Edward" at Devonport on 30th July 1915, then arrived at Alexandria on the 11th August. He set sail to Gallipoli the next day. William's body was never found and was believed to have drowned on the sinking of H.M.T. "Royal Edward" on passage from Alexandria to Gallipoli. He was the husband of Mary Anne Clarke; and the son of Mrs A E Clarke of 45 Rotherham Road, Swallownest.