William was educated at Wrekin College, Shropshire from 1931 to 1937 becoming, in his final year, Head of his House and a School Prefect.
He volunteered for service in the RAF on the outbreak of war. He soon qualified as a wireless operator/air gunner serving with 115 Squadron operating from RAF Marham, Norfolk, flying the twin-engine Vickers Wellington Bomber in which he undertook a number of operational flights.
On 30th May 1942 Wellington III Z1614 [KO-R] took off at 23:59 hrs for participation in the first 1,000 bomber raid of the war targeting Cologne, Germany, with five aircrew on board including William.
At 01:57 hrs on 31st May his aircraft was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 110 D-3 night fighter crewed by Oberleutnant Barte & Unteroffizier Pieper of the 4./NJG 1.
The aircraft crashed at Wijchmaal, Belgium with the loss of all on board. William was aged 24 when he was killed.
He was the son of William Arnott McLeod & Agnes Lawson McLeod, Edinburgh, Scotland.
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