Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Isaac Barnett a Farm Waggoner, born 1852 in Burton on the Wolds, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah, born 1851 in Burton on the Wolds, Leicestershire. William was born in 1893 in Wymeswold, Leicestershire, his siblings were Mary, born 1880, Martha, born 1886 and Thomas, born 1888, the latter three siblings were all born at Burton on the Wolds, Leicestershire, John, born 1890 and Isaac, born 1896, both being born in Wymeswold, Leicestershire. In March 1901 the family home was at Burton Bandalls, Walton Road, Burton on the Wolds, Leicestershire. In April 1911 William was employed as a Farm Labourer and was residing with his widowed father and siblings, Thomas, John, Isaac and Mary in the family home at 28, Judges Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire. His father Isaac Barnett died 12th October 1915, and his mother Sarah died 26th March 1911, his mother was the daughter of Samuel Bassford of Burton on the Wolds, Leicestershire. William was educated in Loughborough, Leicestershire. He died of wounds received in action by the bursting of a shell.