Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Thomas Bosworth a shoe riveter, born 1862 in Anstey, Leics., and his wife Elizabeth Bosworth (nee Holmes, married 1883), born 1862 in Weston on Trent, Derbys. In the 2nd quarter of 1885 William’s mother died aged 23. William’s widowed father married Sarah Ann Dickens in the 2nd quarter of 1888 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire marriage registration district. In April 1891 William who was born in 1884 in Anstey, Leics., was residing in the family home at Anstey Land Society Cottage, Gladstone Street, Anstey, Leics., together with his father and step mother Sarah Ann, a shoe trade machinist, born 1867 in St. Andrew’s, Northampton and his half blood siblings, James Percival, born 1890 and Effie Emma, born 1891, both his half blood siblings were born in Anstey, Leics., also residing with the family was a maternal cousin, Ellen Davis, born 1876 in Northampton. In the 2nd quarter of 1896, William’s father died aged 34. In March 1901 William was employed as a shoe riveter and was residing at Park Road, Anstey, Leics., this being the family home of his paternal grandfather James Bosworth a shoe riveter, born 1842 in Anstey, Leics., and his wife Ann, born 1839 in Kirby Muxloe, Leics., and their children William, born 1876, Ernest, born 1877 and Sarah A., born 1882, the latter three children were all born in Anstey, Leics. William’s widowed mother was at this time residing at Cropston Road, Anstey, Leics., together with his two half blood siblings, Archibald Harry, born 1894 and Herbert Ernest, born 1896, both his half blood siblings were born in Highfield Street, Anstey, Leics. In April 1911 William was employed as a shoe riveter and was residing at Latimer Street, Anstey, Leics., being the family home of his paternal grandparents, also residing with the family was his paternal aunt, Sarah Bosworth. His step mother was residing in the family home at The Nook, Anstey, Leics., together with his half blood siblings, Laurence Victor, a shoe trade worker, born 1893 in Anstey, Leics., Archibald, a clerk and Herbert, a shoe trade worker, also residing with the family was his step mothers, widowed mother Sarah Dickens, born 1835 in Welford, Northants.