Son of John James (Grocer) and Elizabeth Mary Castling, William Rochester Castling joined the High School from Baring Street elementary school in 1894.

He left in 1909, and is believed to have joined his father's grocery business.

William served with the Northumberland Fusiliers in the Tank Corps, initially as Private, but was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in 1917.

Not much is known about him after the war, other than he died in South Shields on 24-Jan-1942.