William Harold Scorer, born on 29th November 1887, was admitted to King Edward’s School in September 1901. He lived with his mother, Sarah, his father, William, an ironmonger, and his five siblings at 742, Coventry Road, later moving to 153, Bristol Road. Several of his brothers and sisters were Old Edwardians of the Grammar Schools, and his brother, Reginald, went on to become a Major in the army, serving in Mesopotamia.
At School, William studied in the Modern School, which offered a curriculum that emphasised scientific rather than classical subjects. Although he was not especially strong in most of his subjects, he placed 3rd in his class in drawing. He does not make an appearance in the School Chronicles but he was a member of the School Officer Training Corps.
After leaving School, William became a local journalist, before enlisting with the Birmingham University Officer Training Corps in 1914. He obtained his commission as a Second Lieutenant with the 8th Wiltshire Regiment, and in September 1915 was deployed in the Dardanelles, taking part in the landings at Suvla Bay. He was invalided home in December 1915, returning in July 1917 to join the 7th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, on the Salonika Front for patrol duty. He was promoted to Acting Captain in July 1918, travelling overland to France where he was Second-in-Command of his Company. William was fatally injured at Le Catelet, succumbing to his wounds on 6th October 1918 at No. 55 Casualty Clearing Station in Péronne, aged thirty. He was mentioned in despatches in July 1919 and is buried at Doingt Communal Cemetery, where his epitaph reads: “Greater love hath no man than this. John 15.V.13”. Although married, William left his estate of £154 to his father.