His birth was registered in 1889 Q4, and his age is given as 21 years in the 1911 census. He is described as a motor mechanic and chauffeur aged 29 years when he married Jane just before his 34th birthday in 1923. His marriage certificate describes him as a bachelor; however there is evidence that he was previously married to Francis Jane Davie (1885-1938) and that his marriage to Winifred was bigamous.

15 days after their marriage (and 5 days after his 34th birthday) William and Winifred sailed to Melbourne, Australia aboard the P&O ship Borda; his age is recorded on the passenger list as 30 years.

His death in 1968 was recorded in Katanning, Western Australia, his age being given as 79 years (which agrees with his birth being in 1889). He is buried in Dumbleyung (Nippering) Cemetery, some 30 miles north of Katanning.