Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Ellen Bottrill, born 1860 in Oakham, Rutland. In April 1911 William John, born 1885 in Oakham, Rutland was residing in the home of his widowed mother at 9, St. Agnes Lane, Coventry, Warwks., together with his wife of seven years Sarah Ann a char woman, born 1885 in Loughborough, Leics., together with their children Nellie, born 1906, Sarah, born 1907 and Thomas, born 1911, all the children were born in Coventry, Warwks. His sister Mrs Taylor, resided at 24, Finkey Street, Oakham, Rutland. He enlisted in early 1915, embarking for Salonika on 21st August 1916, where he was killed by a shell.