William Frederick Needham was the son of Richard and Ann Needham of Oakham and was married to Annie. He was 35 when he was killed on 15 May 1918, serving with 11th Battalion Leicestshire Regiment. His battalion war diary entry for that day says many of his Company were working on wiring advance posts when the area was shelled at around 1.30pm killing three and injuring five. William is buried in Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No. 3 near Ypres, grave IV.D.17. He was 35 years old. After the war his wife was recorded as living in the Aylestone area of Leicester.

William does not appear to be on the Oakham War Memorial, perhaps because he and his wife were living in Leicester at the time he joined up. There is a W Needham on the memorial, but we think this is another William Needham from Oakham who is also remembered on Langham's war memorial where his father was living.