William Gordon Welch was born in Frodsham, Cheshire, England in 1886.
The 1911 Census shows that the family lived at 12 West View, Chemistry Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire, England. The head of the family was William Welch aged 47, a Telegraph Linesman, employed by the General Post Office. His wife Margaret Welch (nee Dugdale) aged 48 and their two sons – William Gordon Welch aged 25, a Telegraph Wireman and John Reginald Welch aged 17, a Postman.
In February 1915 William married Annie Armstrong and they lived at 3 Sandfield Place, Wood Road, Rhyl, Flintshire, North Wales. They had one son, Gordon Noel Welch.
William enlisted at the Recruitment Centre, Rhyl in 1915 with the Royal Engineers. He died on 6 April 1917 at Bethnal Green Hospital, London, details surrounding his death are not known,
The National Probate Calendar for 1925, which was administered in St. Asaph, Denbighshire states that William Gordon Welch of 3 Sandfield Place, Wood Road, Rhyl, Flintshire, on his death had left the sum of £37. 0s. 0d. to Annie Roberts.
William is also remembered on a Remembrance Plaque at The Royal Alexandra Hospital, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire and on The North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales. He is also listed on the Whitchurch Memorial (Shropshire).