| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
There are significant gaps in our knowledge of William's life not helped by the commonplaceness of his name.
William was born in Haverhill in Suffolk in the late spring of 1886. He was one of nine children born to local tailor, Alfred Smith (1853-1914) and his wife Emily Ann (1853-1933), both local to Suffolk. Emily worked as a shirt finisher, presumably in the business. Nothing is known of William's upbringing. In the 1911census he is noted as being a platelayer for the North Eastern Railway (NER) and having moved to Beverley. He was lodging at 34 St Andrew Street with the Mann family. His photo in uniform in the Beverley Guardian on April 8th 1916 says that his mother was living at 87 Minstermoorgate. Why he or she came to this area is not known but in his mother's case might be linked to the death of his father in 1914.
In the war William served in a pals battalion raised in Hull in September1914. It was the 17th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers and called the NER Battalion whose employees joined. It was a pioneer battalion, possibly using the labouring and construction skills he would have had at work. They landed in France on November 21st 1915 with 32nd Division, later moving to GHQ Railway Construction Troops, and then on May 31st 1918 to 52nd (Lowland) Division. In 1916 they would have taken part in
the actions in the Battle of the Somme such as Albert, Bazentin Ridge, Ancre Heights and Ancre. Later they were involved in the defensive actions in spring 1918 and then the offensive actions towards the Hindenburg line in summer and autumn 1918.
The identity of the William Smith is difficult to ascertain from the historical records. If William was private Smith 17/571 he would have been discharged from the army on December 26th 1917 due to sickness. William was awarded the War and Victory Medals as well as the 1914-15 Star.
After the War, William returned to the railways, NER and LNER after 1921. We know this since he was a member of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (now the NUR) from 1911 to 1927 but their documents do not indicate if he returned to Beverley. It is not known whether he was married or when or where he died. He is however commemorated on the St Andrew Street Shrine which records him as being a resident of Lurk Lane.
Includes a photo and information taken from census, military records |