Name
William George (poss George William) Smith
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/11/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/43805
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
1st/8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Addenda Panel 60.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hemel Hempstead Memorial
Pre War
George William Smith (known as William) was born on 24 March 1889 in Hemel Hempstead, the son of Chester and Emma Smith. He was one of ten children, but five died in early childhood. He was baptised on 17 April 1889 at Hemel Hempstead.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 28 Cherry Bounce, Hemel Hempstead, where his father was working as a General Labourer.
On the 1901 Census, he is recorded as 'William' and living with his sister Rosetta and his grandmother Caroline Rance at no. 9 Cherry Bounce, next door to his parents and the rest of his family at no. 8 Cherry Bounce.
On the 1911 Census the family were living at 15 Cherry Bounce, Hemel Hempstead where his father and both William and his brother Frederick were working as a Farm Labourers.
His mother died in 1912 and his father's address on pension records is 5 Queen Street, Hemel Hempstead. ( no pension amount recorded)
Wartime Service
He served with the Middlesex Regiment initially under the under reg. no. 5987, later transferring to G/43805.
He was declared missing, presumed killed, on 30 November 1917 and has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His father received pay owing of £11 9s 1d. Pension records exist but give no indication of any amount paid. N.B. Most military sources give the soldier's name as George William, but civil sources suggest William George. CWGC gives his father as Charles Smith, but Pension index cards clearly show the name as Chester. Not found on Soldiers who Died in the Great War. His medals were either returned or not claimed and a request was recorded on the medal index card to dispose of the medals on 4.3.21.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
