Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Corbett a hosiery machine operator, born 1870 in Shepshed, Leics., and his wife Amelia Alice Corbett (nee Wortley), born 1874 in Gracedieu, Leics. William Edward was born in 1898 in Shepshed, Leics., he had one sibling, a sister, Ellen, born 1901 in Shepshed,Leics., also residing with the family was his paternal uncle Edwin, a shoe riveter, born 1884 in Shepshed, Leics., and his paternal aunt, Sarah, a hosiery machine minder, born 1886 in Shepshed, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Forest Street, Shepshed, Leics. In April 1911 William was schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Brook Street, Shepshed, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Arthur, a shoe trade worker, born 1881, Ellen, a schoolgirl, Hannah, a schoolgirl, born 1903, Emma, a schoolgirl, born 1906, Gertrude, a schoolgirl, born 1908 and May, born 1910, all his siblings were born in Shepshed, Leics. On Friday June 15th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “PRISONERS OF WAR” – LEICESTERSHIRE MEN IN GERMAN HANDS.- The following men have recently been reported to the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Prisoners of War Committee, New Street, Leicester, as being prisoners of war:- Leicestershire Regt. Lance Sergt. W. E. Corbett.