William enlisted into the R.A.M.C. [T.F.] on 7th August 1914. He was 22 years and 2 months old, a clerk by trade and living at 6 Parker Street, Cambridge at the time. On 3rd August 1916, he embarked at Southampton and arriving on the 18th, he entered the war in Salonika, where he became attached to No 41 General Hospital. William wrote letters to Connie Ashton every Tuesday [ish] for two years from [briefly] 1st Eastern General Hospital, Burrells Walk, Cambridge and then from 'A' Company, Sergeants’ Mess, R.A.M.C. Dept, Aldershot; before being posted abroad. On 28th September 1918, according to a statement and investigation, a primus stove was being lit in the sterilizing room by William when there was an explosion. The investigation carried out found that a container marked "Petroleum" exploded when William lit the stove with methylated spirit. The contents of the stove, however, when drained after the fire, were reported to have only contained paraffin. It was reported that only paraffin and methylated spirits were found in the sterilizing room. William received 2nd degree burns involving his chest, covering both legs, hands and arms up to the elbows, and his face slightly affected. He went into extreme shock. He died from his injuries in No 41 General Hospital the next day and was buried on the 30th. The officiating Chaplain was R J Dickson. William was the son of William and Sarah Horspool of 6 Parker Street, Cambridge. [Information source: CWGC, Soldiers Died in the Great War, Service record and John P H Frearson. (Portrait photograph courtesy of John P H Frearson, from whom information on the letters etc can be obtained - contact details via his website at http://johnphfrearson.host22.com/Lectures-and-Presentations.html) ]