As yet we have very little evidence as to William’s identity. It is thought that he could be the William Dawson recorded on the 1881 census when he was 6 years old and living at Moorey Lea in Langleydale and Shotton. If so, his parents were William and Hannah Dawson. In 1911, he was aged 36, married to Frances Elizabeth and living in Fairfield Street Darlington with 3 children.
William was a Reservist in the West Yorkshire Regiment. By 1901, William was single and boarding in Gurney Street, Darlington. He left Staindrop to join his regiment in 1914. William served in France where he was wounded & killed in action. If this is the same man, he would be 39 when he died.