William has previously served with the Kings Royal Rifles. He enlisted on 26th February 1915 and was embodied into the East Anglian Casualty Clearing Station, Territorial Force. He was 30 years old and was living at 1 Alexandra Terrace, Conisborough 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 son of Benjamin and Eliza Birch of 4 New Street, Shelfield, Walsall; and the husband of Millie Jones (formerly Birch) of 1 Clifton Hill, Conisborough, Rotherham. [Portrait photograph from The Times - kindly provided by Kath Atkin]