| William Flynn was the son of William George Wade Flynn and Sarah Flynn.
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| William George Acheson Flynn was born in Laurencetown, County Down about 1895.
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| William’s mother Sarah died when he was very young.
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| Known family: William George Wade Flynn, Sarah Flynn, Helen J Flynn (born about 1894), William George Acheson Flynn (born about 1895).
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| The 1901 census lists William as age 6, living with his aunt at house 4 in Laurencetown Town, Tullylish, County Down.
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| The 1901 census lists his father living at house 19 in Muckamore, County Antrim. He was a widower and had his seven year old daughter Helen living with him. He was described as an assistant manager of a bleach works.
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| William’s father remarried. William Flynn married Elizabeth Mack on 3rd August 1904 in Belfast. They went on have at least three children.
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| Remarried father’s family: William George Wade Flynn, Elizabeth Flynn, Margaret Raphael Flynn (born 1st January 1906), Samuel Redmond Flynn (born 24th August 1907), Sarah Elizabeth Flynn 1 (born 24th April 1910).
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| The 1911 census lists William as age 16, living with relatives at house 27 in Laurencetown, Tullylish. He was still at school.
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| The 1911 census lists William’s father living with his new family at house 47 in Lisnafillan, Ahoghill, County Antrim.
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| Prior to enlisting William was employed in the Lisnafillan Works. His father was a manager of Lisnafillan Bleaching Works.
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| William Flynn was a member of the Galgorm Company of the U.V.F.
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| William enlisted in Ballymena. He was the first man to enlist from the Galgorm Company. He was living in County Londonderry at the time.
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| 1916
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| William took part in the Battle of the Somme.
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| Owing to ill health, William was invalided home later in 1916. A newspaper report seems to imply he spent Christmas 1916 with his father in Upperlands.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 30th December 1916: Upperlands
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| Another soldier at present home on leave is Lance Corporal W G Flynn, Royal Irish Rifles (son of Mr W G Flynn, Upperlands), who, owing to ill health, was invalided home some time ago. He took part in the big push on the 1st July.
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| 1917
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| Rifleman William Flynn returned to the front in 1917.
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| Rifleman William George Flynn was serving with the 12th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action on Saturday 11th August 1917.
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| From the Ballymena Observer dated 31st August 1917: Rifleman William Flynn
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| Notification has been received from Mr J. Flynn, formerly manager of Lisnafillan Bleaching Works, and now of Upperlands, that his son, Rifleman William Flynn, has been killed in action. Rifleman Flynn was a member of the UVF and was the first man to enlist from the Galgorm Company. He went to the front with the Ulster Division and prior to enlisting was employed in the Lisnafillan Works.
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| From the Belfast Newsletter dated 15th September 1917:
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| Lance Corporal Willie Flynn, R.I.R., missing, believed killed, is a son of Mr W Flynn, formerly of Ballymena, now of Upperlands.
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| From the Belfast Newsletter dated 22nd September 1917:
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| Lance Corporal W Flynn, R.I.R., killed, was a son of Mr W G Flynn, Upperlands.
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| 1918
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 2nd March 1918:
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| Mr W G Flynn, Upperlands, who was notified several months ago that his son, Lance Corporal W Flynn, Royal Irish Rifles, was missing, has now received official intimation that his son is believed to have been killed.
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| Last Will and Testament
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| At the time of his death his father was living and working in Upperlands, County Londonderry. In his will, he left all to his father.
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| Last Will and Testament of Rifleman William Flynn dated 16th April 1917:
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| In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to Mr William George Flynn, father, Upperlands, County Derry. Signed Lance Corporal William George Flynn.
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| Memorials
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| Rifleman W G A Flynn has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.
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| Rifleman William George Flynn is also commemorated in Ahoghill Church of Ireland.
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| The CWFC record Rifleman William George Acheson Flynn as the son of William George Wade Flynn, of Glenbank, Ballysillan, Belfast, and the late Sarah Flynn.
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