William was born in 1898. He was the son of Frank and Emily . He was born in Dallington St James, Northants and in 1901 he was living there with his parents and older sister Dorothy Elizabeth born in 1896 and younger sister Elsie Louise born in 1900. His father was employed as a railway porter. Another sister Ida May was born in 1906 in Market Harborough.

By 1911 Frank was a railway guard and the family were living in 2 Trafalgar Terrace on New Cross Road in Stamford, a 6 roomed house. They probably moved away as no further information was found.