BORN HULL 1897. SON OF ROBERT SCAIFE (1867-1932) AND JANE ANN ANDREWS (1870-1937), OF 3 ELIZABETH PLACE, PORTER STREET, HULL (1911 CENSUS) AND 12 HOPE TERRACE, WALKER STREET, HULL (HDM ADDRESS). SON OF A DOCK LABOURER. HE HAD FIVE BROTHERS AND TWO SISTERS. WILLIAM ENLISTED WITH HIS BROTHER, ARTHUR, AT BEVERLEY ON THE SAME DAY. THEY WERE BOTH CRACK SHOTS AND WERE QUICKLY READY FOR ACTIVE SERVICE. WILLIAM WORKED FOR A SAW MILL (1911) AND THE NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. ARTHUR FOR MESSRS. HALL AND HAMLYN, OF OSBORN STREET, HULL.
WILLIAM WAS POSTED TO FRANCE, ON 18/02/1915. SERVED WITH THE 2ND EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. HE WAS KILLED BY A TRENCH MORTAR, ON THE 27TH FEBRUARY 1915, AGED 18. (6 KILLED AND 13 WOUNDED IN THE EXPLOSION). HE HAD BEEN AT THE FRONT LESS THAN A MONTH. HIS DEATH AND PHOTOGRAPH ARE REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON 23RD MARCH 1915, AND THE HULL TIMES ON THE 27TH MARCH 1915.*
HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE MENIN GATE MEMORIAL, YPRES. HE LEFT BROTHERS, PTE’S. ARTHUR, WILLIAM, JAMES, AND ALFRED SCAIFFE WHO ALSO LIVED WITH THEIR MOTHER AT THIS ADDRESS. HUUIS BROTHER ARTHUR, 4TH EYR WAS WOUNDED AT YPRES (HULL DAILY MAIL, 21/05/1915)
HE IS LISTED ON THE WALKER STREET MEMORIAL WITH HIS BROTHER, PRIVATE, ROBERT SCAIFE, 1ST WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, WHO DIED OF WOUNDS, ON 23/11/1914, AGED 25.
