Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry James Large, a grave digger, born 1864 in Northampton and his wife Agnes Large (nee Pollard), born 1872 in Leicester. William Henry was a rope trade spinner and was born in 1896 in Leicester, his siblings were, Evelyn Maud, a schoolgirl, born 1898, May Emily, a schoolgirl, born 1900, Ethel Violet, a schoolgirl, born 1902 and Rosina Ellen, born 1909, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1911 the family home was at 10, Mellor Street, Leicester. On Friday January 5th 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL MEN IN THE CASUALTY LISTS” - The following local casualties are reported under various dates. All are Private’s except where otherwise shown. The town shown against each soldiers name is the home of his next-of-kin. KILLED. LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. Large, 21403 W. H. (Leicester). The War Diary entry for the 30th November 1916 records. BETHUNE. At 9.00am “A” Company worked on communication trenches and emplacements near the BRICKSTACKS. At 12.30pm “B” Company worked on RESERVE LINE in 14 BIS SECTION. 10 men sent to the Field Ambulance sick. At 1.00pm “D” Company worked in GUNNERS SIDINGS (Map Reference A.15.a.4.8. LA BASSEE 1/10000). 2 men were killed and 2 men wounded by shell which fell in the trench.