Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Joseph, the village Blacksmith and his wife Sarah Jane Perkins. William had three sisters and a brother Tom who served with the Artillery, but was invalided out due to being kicked under the heart by a horse, he died at an early age due to this injury. William had been employed as a Fitter working in Coventry. He was a very keen bicycle owner and often wrote home enquiring as to its upkeep, even sending money home for its maintenance. When at home he frequented the “Holly Bush” public house in Ashby Parva. His intitial training after enlistment was at Cheltenham and Catterick eventually embarking overseas in March 1917. The War Diary entry for the 30th November 1917 records. The first attack was on the 55th Division on the right of the 12th. The 35th Brigade was on the right on the 12th Division and the Battalions in the front line were the 5th ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGT on the right, and the 7th NORFOLK REGT on the left. The 9th ESSEX REGT were in support, the 7th SUFFOLK REGT in reserve. It was 7.30am that the German attack in great force fell upon the 5th ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGT at QUARRY POST, where they were so far back from the slope of the valley of the ST. QUENTIN CANAL as not to be able to see the German concentration in it. From QUARRY POST the Battalion was forced back by the overwhelming attack some two hundred yards to ADAM TRENCH. A fierce bombing fight ensued in which the ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGT succeeded in getting back the lost ground, but being short of bombs, were again driven back to ADAM TRENCH. The enemy had gained their first success by the aid of a heavy barrage of trench mortars, and a flank attack from the south up NEW TRENCH. The Battalion was still holding on at ADAM TRENCH at 9.30am, but both its flanks had been turned by the driving back of the troops of the 55th Division on the right, and of the 12th on their left. The Germans had reached GONNELIEU on the right rear, and NEWTON POST nearer on the same side. The Battalion was now gradually withdrawn to BLEAK TRENCH and BLEAK SUPPORT TRENCHES north of NEWTON POST. It was still short of bombs. Battalion HQ had moved northwards about 500 yards along the old German line. The enemy, who had broken through the 7th NORFOLK REGT on the left, were held up by the 9th ESSEX REGT. At 10.45am orders were received to withdraw fighting towards VILLERS PLOUICH. The enemy was supported by low flying aeroplanes, and by noon was in possession of VILLERS GUISLAIN, GONNELIEU and GOUZEAUCOURT. The pressure was severe till the CAMBRAI ROAD had been passed, when a new position was taken up on CEMETERY RIDGE and in LA VACQUERIE. Immediately north of the latter place the 5th ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGT and the 9th ESSEX REGT lined a sunken road, but found themselves out of touch with any British troops on either flank. They were then ordered to man the old British line held for the first phase of the Battle of CAMBRAI in front of VILLERS PLOUICH. The withdrawal to this position was completed by 3.30pm when “A” Company under Captain J. M. READY M.C., was dug in on the right flank of the ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGT facing GONNELIEU. The remainder of the 35th Brigade now only about three hundred strong, was holding the old British line in front, with a defensive flank west of the CAMBRAI ROAD. Here the retirement ceased for the night. The casualties of the ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGT in the fighting of the 30th November to the 2nd December were:- Officers killed 2nd Lt. E. A. I. WYKES, 2nd Lt. F. K. JUDD, wounded, Lt. H. K. HAY. 2nd Lt. C. N. ADCOCK, missing Lt. F. C. R. HILL, 2nd Lt. H. SCHOFIELD, 2nd Lt. E. JONES. Other ranks (approximately) killed 55, wounded 120, missing 120.