William was killed in the 1st world war. He was one of the men who rode on a horse drawn field gun (a big Cannon), I think six horses used to pull them and I suppose the men were infantry soldiers. But he was blown up and he was brought home for a military funeral. The other story was that he had a sweetheart who died of a broken heart not long after. His mother was given a card edged in black that read "Greater love no man hath than to lay down his life for his country".

Alistair Campbell