Name
William George Smith
16/10/1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/08/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
17355
Royal Field Artillery
D Bty. 95th Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAGNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY, GEZAINCOURT
IV. C. 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial
Pre War
William George Smith was born in Waltham Cross/Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, (depending on the document) on 16th October 1895, son of James Smith a Labourer at the Royal Gun Powder Factory, Waltham Abbey and Mary Jane Smith (nee Cowell). One of five children.
He was Baptised on 8th December 1895, at St Lawrence and Holy Cross, Waltham Holy Cross, Essex.
1901 Census records William aged 5, living with his three sisters and brother Arthur (1), at 20 Cecil Road, Cheshunt, Herts. They family had a boarder Charles Paul (80).
1911 Census, William aged 15, is employed as a Mill Hand, living with his parents, and brother Arthur (11), still at 20 Cecil Road.
Mary Jane Smith, passed away about 3 weeks after William's death "after a very painful illness" and who is buried in Cheshunt Burial Ground.*1
Wartime Service
William enlisted at Mill Hill, London, posted to the Royal Field Artillery, with the service number 17355.
On completion of his training, he was sent to France arrived on 30th August 1915.
Seeing action on the Western Front, he died on 13th August 1918, aged 22, at No. 29 Casualty Clearing Station, Gezaincourt, France, of wounds received in action. He is buried in Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt, Somme, France. Grave Ref; IV. C. 3.
Additional Information
His father James Smith received a Dependents Pension of 8/- a week from 13th March 1919, and his effects of £12-14s-8d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £17-10s-00d.
*1 William is also commemorated on his mother's grave in Cheshunt Burial Ground. His inscription reads:
In Loving Memory of
GUNNER WILLIAM GEORGE SMITH. R.F.A. WHO DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION AUGUST 13TH 1918, AGED 22 YEARS AND WAS BURIED AT THE BRITISH CEMETERY BAGNEUX NEAR DOULLENS FRANCE.
“THE PATH OF DUTY WAS THE WAY TO GLORY.”
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
