Name
William Joseph O'Smotherly
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/03/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
39555
Gloucestershire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
No CWGC record
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Town Memorial, Christchurch Plaque, now in Holy Trinity Church, Bengeo
Pre War
Born in 1877, in Hertford, to parents James Daniel O'Smotherley and Mary (nee Robinson), he was one of seven children and in 1881 they were living at Port Hill Common, Bengeo and his father was an army pensioner. In 1891 he was living with his brother Robert and his mother along with two more of his brothers at 8 Byde Street, Bengeo. William married Emma Hedger in 1900 in Hertford, and they were living at 9 Old Hall Street, Hertford in 1901 and he was employed as a coach painter. The 1911 census shows they have two children Leslie William aged five and Elsie Emma aged one, they were living at 51 Port Hill, Hertford and he was now employed as a leather worker.
He joined East Lancashire’s in Jun 1896 as Private 5078 but bought himself out for £10 after one month.
Wartime Service
Formerly he enlisted in Jan 1915 for the 1/1st Hertfordshire as Private 4429. Then 8th Gloucester Reg. Pte. 39555.
He was wounded in France in October 1916 and died Edmonton hospital, London on 23 March 1917, aged 40. William was buried on 28 Mar 1917 in the Holy Trinity Church, Bengeo with full military honours in an unmarked grave.
His burial was recorded as William Joseph Somerby.
Additional Information
His effects were left to his widow Emma of 51 Port Hill, Bengeo and after William’s death his wife remarried and had more children. Nobody of this name appears on the CWGC website, and the only military information we have comes from the medal card index,
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Terry & Glenis Collins, Marilyn Taylor
