William Barnett Bedord was born in Pontefract, Yorkshire, England on 19 May 1880. He was the son of Hector Bedford (1845-1935) and Susan Ann Wright (1855-1924).

His father was born in St Helena and his mother in Aldershot, Hampshire. They married in Alverstoke in 1872 and had a total of 10 children, with 8 surviving infancy: Mary Lydia (b. 1872), Frederick Hector (b. 1875), Amelia Emma (b. 1878), Mary Elizabeth (b. 1883), Olive Cicely (b. 1884), Alice Minnie (b. 1885), Sarah Dorothy (b. 1891), Hector (b. 1893) Edgar George (b. 1895) and William.

William's father was in the army and as such the family moved around a lot to places including Rotherham, Aldershot, Gosport and Pontefract. On the 1881 census the family are listed at the Barracks, 718th Brigade Depots, Tanshelf, Pontefract and his father is described as a Sergeant in the Inst. of Musketry, West Yorkshire Militia.

His father was seemingly an army pensioner by the time of the 1891 census when the family were listed as living at 142 Whitworth Road, Alverstoke, Hampshire. William was apparently still at school while his father was now described as an inspector of telegraph messengers.

William isn't present with his family on the 1901 census, perhaps already at sea, when they were listed as living at 220 Cages (?) Walk, Bermondsey, London. On the 1911 census William is at home with his parents living at 163 Manor Road, Itchen, Hampshire and he is described as a cook in the merchant service for the American Line.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, he gave his address as 163 Manor Road, Itchen , Hampshire. His last ship had been the Oceanic. As assistant roast cook he received monthly wages of £4 10s.

Bedford died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Both William's parents continued to live in Hampshire, later Gosport. His mother Susan died in 1924 aged 69 and his father aged 86 in 1935.

William was remembered on his family's headstone in Ann's Hill Cemetery, Gosport.