William was born on 20th September 1910, in Hampshire, the son of William and Kathleen Foley and husband of Mabel Foley, Nee Nielsen of Denton, Gravesend, Kent.

Both of William's parents were born in Cork, Ireland. His father, also William, was stationed in Kilworth Army Barracks with The Royal Munster Fusiliers. On September 23rd 1909 orders were received for the battalion to move to Tidworth Barracks in Wiltshire. William was born a year later in September 1910 and his brother was born in November 1911.

William and Mabel married in 1936 in Gravesend, Kent and lived in King George VI Ave, East Tilbury.

He joined the Bata Shoe company in November 1935 after having served in the Army.

During the war he was a Sergeant with 5th Battalion GloucestershireRegiment and died at Dunkirk on Thursday 30th May 1940, aged 29.

He is buried at Teteghem Military Cemetery in France.