Walter Smith
In 1911 he was a house painter.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Walter Smith was born in 1887 at Burton upon Trent, he was the husband of Jessie Monks (born 9th October 1891) they were married in 1911 at Nottingham, and the father of Lottie born 16th June 1912, Clara born 9th October 1914 and Edna May Smith. They lived at 2, Mary Terrace, Crocus Street, Meadows, Nottingham and 10 Ferndale Cottages, Kinglake Street, Nottingham.
In 1911 Walter was lodging with members of his future wife's family at 63 Crocus Sreet. Nottingham, Walter 25 yrs is a house painter 25 yrs, he is living with James Harold Monks 22 yrs a leather dresser
Commencing 2nd October 1916 his widow was awarded a pension of 18 shillings and 6 pence a week.
He enlisted 22nd December 1914, Smith's military service has provoked interesting debate.
John Cotterill, custodian of the Sherwood Foresters' archive, notes '20997 is a 9th Battalion number not a 2nd Battalion number. Smith therefore served initially with the 9th Battalion as a K1 volunteer. This, combined with the information on his medal card, would indicate service in the Dardanelles. One can only speculate on when and for what reason he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion. The 9th Battalion were in Egypt until June 1916 so if Smith fought at Gallipoli he must have been returned to the UK before that (wounded or on a course) and then been drafted to the 2nd Battalion.'
However, Julian Putkowski writes 'On Smith serving in Gallipoli (Medal Card 2b) - I think it's an error originally stemming from the 1914-1915 Star entry. I reckon the association of blocks of numbers with particular Sherwood battalions needs a measure of qualification - the numbers may have conceivably been issued on attestation, perhaps at a depot, before assignment to a particular battalion. That would settle the conundrum of why a 9th Bn ranker might be shifted to 2nd Bn. If not, I think deferring, excusing or halting an individual's embarkation may have something to do with domestic matters - marital status and dependents, being unfit, or perhaps their own or a family member's illness.'
He died of wounds on 13th March 1916 in France, he is buried at White House Cemetery Ypres Grave Reference: I B 6
additional family research Peter Gillings
Courtesy of William Smith, Walter Smith's grandson
Walter Smith
Courtesy of William Smith, Walter Smith's grandson
Walter Smith with his daughters Lottie (standing) and Clara. A third child, Edna May Smith, died aged one month from infantile enteritis in November 1916. William Smith, Walter's grandson, notes 'as Walter was sent to the front in August 1916 and was not given leave to come home he would have never seen his daughter Edna May.'
Photo of Walter Smith
Smith Walter grave at White House Cemetery, Ypres courtesy of the Sherwood Foresters Regiment roll of honour website.