| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
William was born and baptized in Walkington in 1888 but was brought up in Beverley, the eldest son of Francis and Sarah Ann Hood. William married Florence Cross in 1911 at age 23 and already had a young family, a girl and a boy when he enlisted on 22 May 1915. They were living at Chalk Villa, Queensgate Road, Beverley and William was working as a labourer.
Williams award of the Silver Badge gives some details of his army service, including his transfer to Class W Reserve in Aug 1917. At this time, although his military character is described as good and it is noted he is steady and willing, he was considered to be no longer fit for war service but "more valuable to the country in civil rather than military employment". His occupation is given as a driller and blaster of chalk, working at Queensgate Whiting Company Ltd.
William joined the Northumbrian Brigade Royal Field Artillery but was admitted to Aylesbury Central Military Hospital only 2 months later suffering from a foot injury. In Apr 1916 he was admitted to hospital again with flat foot, this time in Ripon where he stayed for 10 days. In a statement made around the time of his transfer to Class W of the Reserve list William writes that when he was stationed at Leighton Buzzard with the 3/2 Northumbrian's' 3rd Line Battery, he fell while running during drill, twisting his ankle and leaving him with a deformed foot. In an article in the Beverley Guardian in March 1919 William's photograph appears alongside his 4 brotherswho served with the Yorkshire Regiment, Northumberland Fusiliers and Royal Field Artillery. William is said to be with the Royal Garrison Artillery but there is no record of this, merely that he was attached to the Royal Engineers for a short time.
After the war William lived in the Queensgate area of Beverley with his wife, Florrie, for the rest of his life. He died in 1957 aged 70 and is buried, close to his brother Alfred, and his son Willie who died age 17, in Queensgate Cemetery, Beverley.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |