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Son of George Henry and Sarah Anne Payne, of 8 West Lane, Sittingbourne, Kent. Born Tonge, Kent in 1883. His siblings were Elizabeth Ann, George William Henry, Ellen Mary and Robert Arthur. His father was a farm labourer. Employed as a brickfield labourer when he enlisted in Chatham, on 9th June 1902. He joined the Army Ordnance Corps at Woolwich, London and on the 16th March 1906, he was posted to South Africa. On the 9th June 1910 he was transferred to the Army Reserve in South Africa, and he settled in South Africa. He was discharged on the 8th June 1914, but at the outbreak of war he was recalled and joined the Natal Light Horse Unit of South Africa. The 12th June and 3rd July 1915 editions of the East Kent Gazette, reported on the death of William. They mentioned that William spent many years in Maritzburg, Natal and was a well-known footballer there, playing full back for the Etcetera's Club. His service record show he strained his right knee playing football on 2nd October 1911, in Durban, South Africa. The newspaper also reported he had been the manager of the Phoenix Bar and Billiard Saloon for the previous two years and was formerly in the butchery business. |
