The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private W H Smith

Inscription - FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH

Photograph by - "International War Graves Photography Project"

Private William Harold SMITH, G/17521, "B" Company, 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 17th July 1917, age 21.

Born Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire, son of Herbert and Emily Smith, of 47, Oak Street. New Town, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire.

31st May 1896, Holy Trinity, Bishop's Stortford, baptism of William Harold Smith, son of Herbert and Emily Smith.

1911 Census - 47, Oak Street. New Town, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire - Herbert Smith, head, age 39, married, house decorator, worker, born Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire; Emily Smith, wife, age 45, married 17 years, 5 children, 4 still alive, born Grewat Hallingbury, Essex; William Harold Smith, son, age 15, single, bookstall assistant, Railway, worker, born Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire; Robert Alfred Smith, son, age 13, school, born Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire; Emily Smith, daughter, age 11, school, born Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire; Albert Ernest Smith, son, age 3, born Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire.

Enlisted Harwich, Essex, age 19 years & 8 months, height 5ft 6 inches, weight 119lbs, mole under right nipple. Resided 47, Oak Street. Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. Formerly bookstall assistant.

Home 11th December 1915 to 20th September 1916; BEF 21st September 1916 to 17th July 1917.

11th December 1915, enlisted; 11th December 1915, to Army Reserve; 21st January 1916, mobilized; 22nd January 1916, posted 10th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, Service No.25651; 1st September 1916, transferred to 27th Training Reserve Battalion, Service No.TR/9/8195; 21st September 1916, transferred to Royal West Kent Regiment; 21st September 1916, posted BEF & 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 21st September 1916, embarked / disembarked; 3rd November 1916, 25 General Hospital, influenza; 12th November 1916, 5 Convalescent Depot; 15th December 1916, Etaples, 40 Infantry Base Depot; 16th December 1916, joined Battalion, "B" Company, In the Field; 22nd December 1916, Field Ambulance; 23rd December 1916, rejoined Battalion, "B" Company, In the Field; 3rd February 1917, In the Field, not being washed or shaved on the 9.30am Parade, 3 days confined to Barracks.

17th September 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, Herbert Smith, 47, Oak Street. Bishop's Stortford; Mother, Emily Smith, 47, Oak Street. Bishop's Stortford; Brothers - Albert Ernest Smith, age 11, 47, Oak Street. Bishop's Stortford; Robert Alfred Smith, age 22, 47, Oak Street. Bishop's Stortford; Sisters - Emily Smith, age 20, 47, Oak Street. Bishop's Stortford.

Buried at Roclincourt Military Cemetery, I. D. 5., France.

This page was last updated on 16-Mar-2022.