Name
William David Smith
1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/07/1915
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7422
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RUE-DU-BOIS MILITARY CEMETERY, FLEURBAIX
III. C. 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
MAY GOD'S BLESSING ON YOU SHINE AND GUARD THEE EVER SON OF MINE
UK & Other Memorials
St John the Baptist Church Memorial, Aldenham, St John the Baptist Church Roll of Honour, Aldenham, Letchmore Heath Village Memorial, Not on the Radlett memorials, Not on the Kimpton memorials
Pre War
William David Smith was born in Kimpton, Herts in 1883 the son of David and Eliza Smith. On the 1891 Census the family were living in Kimpton where his father was an agricultural labourer. They had moved to Parts Cottage, Radlett by 1901 and William was working as a farm labourer like his father and younger brother.
He married Alice Rowson in the Watford registration district in 1908 and on the 1911 Census he was living with his wife and children Edith and Herbert at No. 3, The Flats, Radlett, Herts and working as a general labourer for a sewer contractor. They had another child Dorothy in 1913.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Mill Hill, Middlesex and served with the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment in France from 4 January 1915.
He was killed in action on 6 July 1915 and is buried in the Rue du Boix Military Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs D Smith, Oak Cottage, Marble Arch, Radlett, Herts, ordered his headstone inscription: " MAY GOD'S BLESSING ON YOU SHINE AND GUARD THEE EVER SON OF MINE".
His widow Alice received a £3 war gratuity and pay owing of 12s. She also received a pension of £1 6s a week for herself and her 3 children from 17 January 1916.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
