William Henry Smith
Employed in wool mill as a back tenting worker (C. 1911)
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William Henry was the eldest son of Albert Smith and his wife Harriett Hannah (née Newton).
His father Albert was born in Nottingham in about 1872 and his mother Harriett was born in Norton Cuckney, Nottinghamshire, in 1871 (reg OND), the daughter of Richard and Mary Newton.
Albert and Harriett were married at Norton Cuckney St Mary on 7 November 1892 and had four children: Frances Ellen b. Cuckney March 1893, and William Henry b. 1895 (AMJ), Thomas Charles Richard b. March 1897 and Charles Baden b. September 1900, who were born in Radford, Nottingham.
The family was living at 14 Truswell Place, Old Radford, in 1901: Albert was a general labourer.
Albert and Frances had moved to 91 Kennington Road, Radford, by 1911. All four children were in the home on the night of the Census: Frances who worked in a steam laundry (ironer), William and Thomas who were back tenting workers at a wool mill, and Charles who was school age.
Albert died in 1918 (reg. OND) aged 46.
The notice of William Henry's death in the local paper in February 1919 gave his home address as 9 Canterbury Road, Radford. The same address is given in the post-war records of the CWGC.
His sister Frances married Tom Bradbury (b. 1892), a gardener, both of 9 Canterbury Road, Radford, at Radford St Peter on 9 March 1919. One of the two witnesses was her brother, Charles.
She and her husband Tom, a coal miner at Langwith Colliery (Sheepbridge Company), and their daughter Joan (b. Dec. 1919), were living at The Cottages, Cuckney, Mansfield, in 1921. Also in the household was Frances' widowed mother Harriett, and Harriet's youngest son, Charles (20), who was also a coal miner at Langwith Colliery.
Harriett Hannah Smith died in 1934 (reg. Worksop), aged 62.
Thomas Bradbury, a market gardener, Frances and their daughter Joan, a shop assistant (drapery stores), were living in Worksop in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled.
Frances Ellen died in 1968 (reg. JAS Mansfield) aged 75. Her husband Tom Bradbury died in February 1973 (reg. Worksop).
Thomas Charles Richard (23), a leather hand, married Pollie Mary Green [marriage certificate Edith Mary] at Radford St Michael and All Saints on 28 June 1920; his brother Charles was one of the two witnesses. Their daughter Florence was born the following year and her sister Joan in 1927.
In 1939 Thomas, a builders' labourer, his wife Pollie, an office manager (laundry), and their daughters Florence, who worked at a hosiery warehouse, and Joan, who was school age, were living at 111 Dame Agnes Street, Nottingham.
Pollie died in October 1975 aged 79 and her husband Thomas in 1978 (OND).
Charles Baden married Frances Annie Rick at Warsop St Peter & St Paul on 3 August 1931. In 1939 he, his wife and their daughter Beryl (b. 1932 m. Terence G Poxon, 1953 reg. OND Mansfield) were living on Ridgeway Road, Warsop; Charles was a bricklayers' labourer (colliery, above ground) and also a special constable.
Charles Baden died in 1982 (reg. OND Mansfield) aged 82. His widow, Frances, died on 13 December 1999, aged 92.
Driver William Smith, 56th Reserve Battery, Royal Field Artillery, served in theatre (Western Europe) from 23 August 1915 (disembarkation date).
He died from pneumonia on 14 February 1919 at the Military Hospital, Woolwich, London, and was buried on 19 February in Nottingham General Cemetery (grave ref. 1933).
He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William Henry's youngest brother, Charles, enlisted on 13 September 1918 (76723 Private), shortly before the death of his father, Albert, whom he had named as his next of kin. The documents in his Army Service Record are damaged and largely unclear, but he served for 1 year 170 days, latterly with the Army of Occupation in Germany. Charles was 'Compulsorily and permanently transferred to the Durham Light Infantry and posted to the 53rd. Battalion Durham Light Infantry wef 8 August 1919 (Authority W.O.L.20/Infantry/1222 (AG-) 8 Feb 1918)' He was promoted temporary Corporal 'for the period of Army of Occupation (23 August 1919)'. There is a (partial) record that he was admitted to 44 Casualty Clearing Station in Germany in November 1919. Charles was demobilized on 23 March 1920.
CWGC (William Henry Smith). Additional information: Son of Albert and Harriett Smith, of 9, Canterbury Rd., Old Radford, Nottingham.
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Death', 17 February 1919: 'Smith. Driver W., aged 23, R.F.A., died February 14th, from pneumonia, at Military Hospital, Woolwich, dearly beloved eldest son of Mrs. A. Smith and the late A. Smith, 9 Canterbury-rd., Radford, after 4½ years' service. Loved by all. Friends, please accept the only intimation. Funeral 2.30 Wednesday, [19th February 1919] top end, General Cemetery.'
Above courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 14 February 1920: ‘Smith. In loving memory of our dear friend, Driver W. Smith, died February 14th,1919. Fondly remembered. Fred and Polly.’ (www.britisnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 14 February 1920: ‘Smith. In loving memory of my dear brother, Driver WH Smith, who died February 14th, 1919. Still remembered, Tom.’ (www.britisnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 7 October 1975: ‘Smith. Polly Mary passed peacefully away Saturday 4 October 1975 aged 79. Dearly beloved wife of Tom [Thomas Christopher Richard]. Cremation Wilford Hill Friday 12.10pm. Flowers to Lymns.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Notices also from daughter Florrie, son-in-law Jack [John C Bagguley m. 1944], grand-daughter Jane, and from daughter Joan, son-in-law Ron [Ronald Severn m. 1948], grandsons Roger and Darrell.
Mansfield & Sutton Recorder, ‘Deaths’, 30 December 1999: ‘Smith. Frances Ann of Wilcoxson’s Yard, Hucknall (formerly of Ridgeway Villas, Warsop), passed away 13th December, aged 92 years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research/record updated, RF (May 2026)
William Henry Smith
Grave/CWGC headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery. Photograph courtesy of Peter Gillings
Photo of William Henry Smith
Nottingham General Cemetery, grave. Photograph Rachel Farrand (May 2o26)