8th (Service) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
William Smith was one of five children born to Alfred Smith and Fanny (formerly Tanner) of Horsley. Alfred’s place of birth is different on each of three census’ ranging from South Wales and Nailsworth to Somerset. Fanny was born in Horsley. The couple married in 1889.
William was aged eight months at the 1891 Census. The family were living at Horsley Wood and comprised Alfred, Fanny, her widowed father George, Alfred junior aged one, and two girls aged eight and nine who appear to be Fanny’s daughters surnamed Tanner.
At the 1901 Census the family were living at Brewery Lane Horsley. There was another son, Austin and a one-month-old granddaughter, Ivy Tanner. Alfred was working as a brass worker.
At the 1911 Census, 19-year-old William was a driver at the mill. There were two younger brothers. Alfred stated that they had five children of whom one had died.
No service records exist. The medal card gives a date of entry as 20 September 1915 with a note stating that Mrs F Smith has applied for the medals and star due to her late son.
The World War 1 Service Medal & Award Rolls 1914-1920, on Ancestry, shows William having served, initially, in the 9th (Service) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, which, judging by his service number, he joined in September 1914. They first landed in France on 21 September 1915, which ties in with the date of 20 September 1915 on his Medal Rolls Index Card, as being the date he first went abroad (to France). The 8th Battalion had been in France since 18 July 1915. In November 1915, the 9th Glosters transferred to Salonika, so it would appear that William’s time with them was very short and that he had transferred to the 8th Glosters prior to November 1915. Alternatively, he may have served in Salonika and was wounded or became sick and shipped back to the UK and when fit was posted to the 8th Battalion. Due to the absence of a Service Record, we can only speculate as to his movements. Soldiers Died in the Great War definitely records him as being with the 8th Glosters, who were part of 57 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division.
The War Diary for the 8th Glosters show that they were involved in the fighting at Hill 60 in Apri and May 1917 and at the Battle of Messines in early June. It is likely that William was a casualty of one of these actions. The Register of Soldier’s Effects states that William died at Manchester Hospital (on 16 June 1917, aged 25). Payments of £13 and £1 13s 8d were made to Alfred and £2 14s to Fanny. The Pension Ledger states that William died of wounds and that his mother was awarded a pension of 6 shillings with effect from 18 December 1917. Fanny’s address was given as Swan Cottage, Horsley.
William was buried at St Martin’s Church, Horsley on 23 June 1917 and has a CWGC headstone. He is remembered on the war memorial.
It doesn’t appear that any of William’s brothers served in the war but with their surname being commonplace, it’s hard to be sure.
Researched by Helen Wollington with assistance from Graham Adams April 2021