William Smith

WILLIAM SMITH

282581, Private, Alfred William Smith, 1st/5th Battalion, (T.F.) Lancashire Fusiliers, former number 33928.

Born 1895 at Hinkley, Leicestershire, son of foreman in the boot trade Alfred William and Elizabeth Ann Smith. In 1911, the family were resident at 26 Crossall Street, Macclesfield having previously moved from Bacup in Lancashire where their two youngest children were born. Young Alfred was employed in 1911 as a boot finisher; one might say he was following in his father’s footstep. The family moved back to Bury and were resident at 27, Duckworth Street, Bury.

There is very little available military records for Alfred, other that he enlisted into the Lancashire Fusiliers at Bury. The war diaries for the period of September 1917, show the Lancashire Fusiliers in the vicinity of Wilde Wood, and at midnight of 5th, C and D Companies assembled in trenches ready for a 7.30am zero hour. At 7.15am the heavy bombardment commenced, with the attack on Borry Farm, starting 15 minutes later, under a creeping barrage. The 1/6th Lancashire Regiment was in support attacking Beck House and Iberian on the left, whilst the 61st Division attacked Hill 35. There was sharp fighting throughout the day, a heavy toll of casualties was caused by strong machine gun fire. Alfred was killed during this action Thursday 6 September 1917, he was aged 22 years.

Medals: 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Private, Alfred William Smith, is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery West Vlaanderen Belgium.
C.W.G.C. Ref: XXVIII.D.II

Also refer to

• Macclesfield Troops pre WWI
• Photos from Barnswood archive Macclesfield WW1
• ‘Big Hats, Shorts and Dyb Dyb Dyb’ – a history of Macclesfield and Congleton Scouts by Norman Gosling
• WWI List of Addresses Trevor Druce Macclesfield Reflects
• ‘Great war history of 3rd Macclesfield’ by Sue Henderson
• WWI List of Addresses Trevor Druce Macclesfield Reflects