Name
William Henry Smith
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/12/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
23469
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MORCHIES MILITARY CEMETERY
C. 20.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial, Waltham Cross
Pre War
William Henry SMITH was born in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, in the early part of 1891, son of George Smith a Plasterer and Sarah Smith. (nee Blunt) One of their seven children. His Parents were married in 1880, the marriage was Registered in Ware, Herts.
1891 Census records William aged 3 months, living with his parents, three brothers and sister Amelia (7), at 2 Eleanor Road, Waltham Cross, Herts.
William was Baptised on 2nd August 1893, in the Parish of Waltham Cross, Herts.
1901 Census, William aged 10, is living with his parents, three brothers, sister’s Amelia (17) and Ellen (7), at 49 Queens Road, Waltham Cross, Herts.
1911 Census, William (20) is employed as a Garden Nurseryman, living with his parents and sister Elsie (9), still at 49 Queens Road, Waltham Cross.
Wartime Service
William Enlisted at Cheshunt, Herts on 12th December 1915, posted to the Army Reserve the following day the 13th December. Giving his age as 24 yrs, and 11 months and his occupation a Garden Nurseryman Forman and his address 49 Queens Road, Waltham Cross, Herts.
He was Mobilized for war service on 9th February 1916 and posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment on 10th February 1916 and issued with the service No. 26038.
He was transferred to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in June 1916 and issued with the new service No. 23469. He embarked for France on 1st July 1916, joining the 9th Battalion, at Base camp at Etaples on 2nd July.
William received a Gun Shot Wound (GSW) to his right hand on 3rd September 1916 admitted to the Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) the following day the 4th, from there he returned to England on 6th September, for treatment, he spent 14 days in hospital before being discharged and posted to the 1st Battalion. William returned to France, embarking at Folkestone on 15th December for Boulogne arriving the same day, he arrived at Base Camp the following day the 16th, joining his old Battalion the 9th on 18th December 1916.
He was appointed Lance Corporal on 18th July 1917, and Corporal on 23rd November 1917.
William died on 17th December 1917, aged 26, of wounds received in action, he is buried in Morchies Military Cemetery in France. Grave Ref; C. 20.
Additional Information
His parents received a Dependents Pension of 8s/- a week from 2nd July 1918.
His effects of £6-00s-01d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £9-10s-00d, went to his mother Sarah Smith.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
