William was born in Maghull in 1896, the son of German-born William, a master pork butcher, and Pauline. The family lived at Rose Dene, Liverpool Road. By 1911 the couple had nine children. William attended Merchant Taylors’ School, Crosby, for two years and then Trinity College, Dublin, before pursuing a career as a teacher in Hull. He joined one of the Hull Pals battalions, serving as a second lieutenant. In March 1917 he was awarded a Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Within six weeks he was killed in action at Arras, aged 20. He is buried in Orchard Dump cemetery, near Arras, France. In a letter to William’s parents, his colonel wrote: “He was a most keen and capable officer.” His battalion chaplain added: “He was beloved by everyone…your lad was just a splendid example of a pure, true, clean-living English lad.”