Before the First World War William was a gunner in 17 Company of the Royal Garrison Artillery stationed at Castle Cornet, Guernsey, Channel Islands.
His medal rolls show he was a Cpl in the RGA & later in 1924 when the RGA name was discontinued & reamalgamated into the Royal Artillery he was a Warrant Officer II
He was awarded the British War Medal, The Victory Medal and the 1914-5 Star.
In 1927 he was awarded LS & GCM (Long service & good conduct medal)
In WWI the RGA, in addition to the mobile fighting units that went to theatres of war, also manned units at home & in the Empire.
The Medal roll shows William entered France 2.10.15 so it is most likely with the 17th Seige Battery of the RGA which served in Gallipoli from July 1915 & later transferred to the Western Front.
The seige batteries were deployed behind the front line, tasked with destroying enemy artillery, supply routes, railways and stores. The batteries were equipped with heavy Howitzer guns firing large calibre 4,6,8 or 9.2 inch shells in a high trajectory.
