Born as William Oliver Wallace in Bangalore, India,[REF] where his father (also called William[REF]) was serving as a sergeant major with the 1st Battalion of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment.
After William Wallace senior had ended his army service, the family moved to Sutton Valence in Kent and young William won a scholarship to Sutton Valence School, leaving at 16 to begin his career as an entertainer.