William Reed became a well-decorated soldier in World War 1, winning both a Military Medal and an additional bar in 1918. Reed was living in Toowoomba when he enlisted in 1916 and arrived in France in October the following year. He was awarded the Military Medal while fighting for the 42nd Battalion during the Battle of Hamal on 4 July 1918. Reed entered an enemy trench ahead of other soldiers, killing several Germans and forcing the remainder to surrender. Reed was awarded a bar to his Military Medal for his actions on 12 August during the Battle of the Somme. With his platoon in much difficulty, Reed had successfully repelled a charge by superior numbers which then fled.
His war was soon over, after a gunshot wound to the ankle in September, leading to evacuation to England, and a return to Australia in December 1918.
His local football career was more obscure. It appears Reed played in a Toowoomba XI against Pittsworth in 1912 and he was added to the Toowoomba British Football Association honour board in 1918. Reed died in July 1959.