William Halls was christened in Great Wilbraham, Cambridge on 3 Feb 1833 and enlisted with the 1st Battalion, 20th Foot (East Devonshire) on 1 Apr 1851 and served in the Crimea, entitled to all four clasps and during the Indian Mutiny, engaged in the operations against Lucknow from 2nd 16th March 1858, when serving as a Corporal and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 6 Dec 1858, returning to England on 11 Feb 1862 and discharged from the Invalid Depot.