Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Clarke a shoe trade riveter, born 1863 in Manton, Rutland and his wife Sarah, born 1867 in Bisbrook, Rutland. William Edward was born in 1892 in Oakham, Rutland, he had one sibling, a brother George H, born 1898 in Oakham, Rutland, in March 1901 the family home was at Northgate Street, Oakham, Rutland. In April 1911 William was employed as a cleaner and was residing in the family home at Northgate Street, Oakham, Rutland, together with his father, now a labourer, his mother and brother George. William died from pneumonia.