Main CPGW Record
Surname: SMITH
Forename(s): John William
Place of Birth: Cowling, Yorkshire
Service No: 60432
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
Battalion / Unit: 58th Company
Division: 19th (Western) Division
Age: ---
Date of Death: 1918-02-19
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: On West side.
CWGC Cemetery: COWLING (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: COWLING, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: ICKORNSHAW, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
John William Smith was the son of Joseph and Martha Smith, née Whitaker. Both of John's parents were born at Cowling, Yorkshire.
1891 Cowling, Yorkshire Census: Bar Hill - John Willie Smith, aged 3 years, born Cowling, son of Joseph and Martha Smith.
1901 Cowling, Yorkshire Census: Fold Lane - John Wm Smith, aged 13 years, born Cowling, son of Joseph and Martha Smith.
1911 Cowling, Yorkshire Census: 187, Keighley Road - John William Smith, aged 23 years, born Cowling, son of Martha Smith, widow.
John was married to Lily Wallbank in 1914.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte John W. Smith, 60432, Machine Gun Corps.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte John William Smith, 60432, M.G.C. Date and Place of Death: 19.2.18. Died. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow and Sole Legatee - Lily. £12 1s. 10d.
Early in 1918 Machine Gun Battalions were formed. This was done by bringing 4 Machine Gun Companies together to form a battalion. The battalion then took the number of their Division.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
SMITH, J.W., [Cowling], M.G.C., died at Alma Park Military Hospital, Levenshulme, Manchester, Feb. 19, 1918.
---
Click the thumbnail below to view a larger image.
Private John William SMITH
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 19th (Western) Division
View Additional Image(s)
Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cowling
CWGC private memorial
Holy Trinity Churchyard, Cowling
CWGC private memorial - detail
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
02 November 1917
COWLING – A VICTIM OF GAS POISON
Private J. W. Smith, Machine Gun Company, is suffering from gas shell poisoning and is now lying at the Second Western General Hospital, Manchester. Private Smith joined the Colours on the 10th July 1916, and went out to France in the November following. Previous to joining up he was employed as a warp-dresser by Messrs. John Binns and Sons Ltd., Croft Mills, Cowling.
01 March 1918
SMITH – February 19th, 1918, at Alma Park Military Hospital, Levenshulme, Manchester., Private J. W. Smith, Machine Gun Corps, of Cowling.
01 March 1918
COWLING – “HE DID HIS DUTY”
The death of Private J. W. Smith occurred on the 10th inst. at the Alma Park Military Hospital, Leverhulme, Manchester, Private Smith belonged to the 58th Company Machine Gun Corps. He enlisted July 10th 1916 and was in training until November 7th 1916, when he went to France. On November 10th 1917 he was sent back to the Lilley Lane Military Hospital, Mostyn, having been gassed whilst in action. He remained there for a short period, but was eventually sent to the Cheshire Military Hospital, Bexton Road, Knutsford, Cheshire, and was there up to a few weeks ago. From Knutsford he was sent to the Alma Park Military Hospital, where death occurred from pneumonia.
The funeral took place on Saturday at the Cowling Parish Church. The vicar, Rev. G. H. Naylor, officiated. The lessons were read by the Rev. Thomas Dargue, who also conducted a short service at the house of Private Smith’s mother.
The widespread popularity of Private Smith was illustrated in touching fashion by the great number of wreaths that were sent. He had evidently been a great favourite in the hospital. An artificial wreath of exceptional beauty was sent from the inmates of the Alma Park Military Hospital “as a token of respect and esteem for a comrade who has done his duty.” Another wreath was sent by the nurses of the hospital.
Pte. Smith leaves a wife and two children, and also a widowed mother, for whom much sympathy is felt in the village. Before enlistment he was employed by Messrs. John Binns and Sons Ltd. as a warp dresser.
15 March 1918
COWLING – In Memoriam
At the Ickornshaw Wesleyan Church on Sunday a memorial service was conducted by the Rev. Thos. Dargue to the memories of the late Privates James Shuttleworth, Walter Snowden and John W. Smith. Mrs. Robt. Watson sang the solo ‘God shall wipe away all tears.’
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
02 November 1917
COWLING
SOLDIER GASSED – Pte. J.W. Smith, of the Machine Gun Company, is reported as a patient in the Second Western General Hospital, Manchester. He is suffering, from gas shell poisoning. Pte. Smith enlisted on July 10th, 1916, and went to France on the 7th of November, 1916. Previous to joining the colours he was employed as a warp-dresser by Messrs. John Binns and Sons, Ltd.
01 March 1918
SMITH – Feb. 19th, At Alma Park Military Hospital, Leverhulme, Manchester, Pte. J.W. Smith, of the Machine Gun Corps, husband of Mrs. Smith, of Cowling.
01 March 1918
COWLING
DEATH OF PRIVATE J. W. SMITH
The death of Pte. J. W. Smith occurred on the 19th inst. at the Alma Park Military Hospital, Leverhulme, Manchester. Private Smith belonged to the Machine Gun Corps. He enlisted on July 10th, 1916, and was in training until Nov. 7th, 1916, when he went out to France. On Nov. 10th, 1917, he was sent back to the Lilley Lane Military Hospital, Mostyn, having been gassed whilst in action. He remained in the last-named hospital for a short period, but was eventually sent to the Cheshire Military Hospital, Knutsford, Cheshire, and was there up to a few weeks ago. From Knutsford he was sent to the Alma Park Military Hospital, where he died from pneumonia. The funeral took place on Saturday last at the Cowling Parish Church, the vicar, Rev. G. H. Naylor, officiating, whilst the lessons in the church were read by Rev. Thomas Dargue, who also conducted a short service at the house of Pte. Smith’s mother. The widespread popularity of Pte. Smith was illustrated in touching fashion by the great number of wreaths sent. He had evidently been a great favourite in the hospital. An artificial wreath of exceptional beauty was sent from the inmates of the Alma Park Military Hospital, “as a token of respect and esteem for a comrade who has done his duty.” Another wreath was sent by the nurses of the hospital, also one from his fellow-workmen at Croft Mills. Pte. Smith leaves a wife and two children, and also a widowed mother, for all of whom much sympathy is felt in the village. Before enlistment he was employed by Messrs. John Binns and Sons, Ltd., as a warpdresser.
15 March 1918
COWLING
MEMORIAL SERVICE – On Sunday evening a memorial service was held at the Ickornshaw Wesleyan Church in commemoration of Privates James Shuttleworth, Walter Snowden, and J.W. Smith. Rev. Thomas Dargue was the preacher. The soloist was Mrs. Robert Watson, who gave an efficient rendering of ‘God shall wipe away all tears.’ The organist, Mr. Watson Dawson. played the ‘Dead march’ in ‘Saul.’
Comment on this Soldier Record
You can leave comments on this soldier record. Please note all comments will be manually approved before they appear on the website.
No comments yet.