William McKee was the son of William and Rachel McKee. He was born on 19th June 1881. He was the fourth of six children, all born in the in the Coagh – Moneymore area.. They were a farming family from Ballygoney More, near Coagh. William was educated at Queen’s College, Belfast, graduating in the Royal University in 1907. Prior to enlisting, Doctor William McKee was in practice in Birmingham. In June 1916, Dr McKee obtained a commission in the RAMC. He was mentioned in despatches in 1916 and was decorated with the Croix de Guerre in 1917.