William was the son of William & Mary Ann Brown of Cleatlam. In 1911 his father was a quarryman & William was working below ground as a flatter. However there is evidence from Raby that he worked in the Raff Yard there for four days when his wages were 12/4. He had four siblings, Elizabeth, Isaac, Arthur, (also a WW1 casualty) and John. In 1911 Isaac was only 16 and employed as a “helper-up below ground.”
William joined the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1914 & served in France & Flanders. He was killed in action on 16th October, 1916 aged 23 & is buried in Hebuterne Military Cemetery.