Name
William Thomas Smith
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/08/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
29802
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ACHIET-LE-GRAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
IV. A. 26.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial (*1), Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Ponsbourne St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Newgate Street, Ponsbourne St Mary's Church Memorial, Newgate Street
Pre War
William Thomas Smith was recorded in the SDITGW database as born in Broadway, Worcestershire, and was living in Cheshunt, Herts, when he enlisted (*1).
No official Birth, Baptism, Marriage or Census records for William have been found yet.
Wartime Service
William enlisted in Cheshunt, Herts, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 29802
He was Killed in action on 21st August 1918, possible at the Battle of Albert (21st – 23rd Aug 1918) part of the Second Battle of the Somme (21st Aug – 3rd Sept 1918), he is buried in the Achiet-Le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave Ref. IV. A. 26.
Private(*2) 29802 Walter Thomas Smith, 4th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment.
Additional Information
Alice received a grant of £5, on 9th September 1918, a widow’s pension of 13/9 a week from 3rd March 1919 and his effects of £2-1s-6d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £10-8s-6d.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Smith (Widow) Ponsbourne Manor House. received an “In Memoriam & Roll of Honour Album”.
*1 The Cheshunt Town Memorial lists a W Smith, a W G Smith and a W H Smith and the St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Cheshunt a W Smith who was a Private in the Middlesex Regiment
The W G and W H are positively identified, however the W Smith is proving more difficult. According to the SDITGW, this man William Thomas, was born in Broadway, Worcs. and was living in Cheshunt, when he enlisted there. Because of this strong connection to Cheshunt, we have assumed him to be the W Smith on the Cheshunt Town Memorial, however because the St Mary’s memorial records the man commemorated as a Private in the Middlesex Regiment, and this man was in the Bedfordshires, William seems unlikely to be that man.
*2 Please note that Walter's rank appears as Private in CWGC records, but as Lance Corporal or Corporal on some memorials.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
