Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Jeffs, a quarryman and sett maker, born 1865 in Hinckley, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Jeffs, born 1874 in Quorndon, Leicestershire. William was born in the 2nd quarter of 1895 in Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Lavinia, born 1894, Evelyn, born 1897, Kathleen, born 1899 and Florence, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Stoney Stanton, in March 1901 the family home was at Spring Gardens, Stoney Stanton. In April 1911 William was employed as a quarry engine signaller and was residing in the family home at Bath Street, Sapcote, Leicestershire together with his father, a sett maker, his mother and siblings, Evelyn, a hosiery trade linker, Kathleen, a schoolgirl, Albert, a schoolboy, born 1903 and John, born 1908, the latter two siblings were both born in Sapcote.
The War Diary records: 25 Oct-14 - The Battalion had relieved the West Yorkshire Regiment on the 21st October at the Chemical Factory at Rue du Bois, the Germans had attempted to rush the trenches at dawn, but were beaten back with great loss, shelled intermittently all day. 2 Platoon of “D” Company were driven out by enfilade fire at about 9.00am, but retrieved the position by dusk, ordered to retire during night. Trench line was reinforced by 1 Company East Yorkshire Regiment and 2 Platoons of the Rifle Brigade during the day. “A” Company’s line was not seriously attacked. Casualties two Officers wounded, twenty two Other Ranks killed, sixty eight wounded and ninety eight missing.
On Saturday January 9th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOSSES IN THE LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.” – The following casualties in the Leicestershire Regiment are announced. – MISSING. Lance Corporal W. Jeffs.