Main CPGW Record
Surname: SMITH
Forename(s): William Robert
Place of Birth: Lothersdale, Yorkshire
Service No: 18771
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 9th (Service) Battalion
Division: 17th (Northern) Division
Age: 21
Date of Death: 1916-07-07
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 6 A and 6 B.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: LOTHERSDALE, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
William Robert Smith was the son of Henry and Emily Smith, née Morgan and brother of Private Thomas Whitney Smith (266344) (q.v.). Their father was born at Lothersdale, Yorkshire and mother at Hereford, Herefordshire.
1901 Lothersdale, Yorkshire Census: Mill Yard - William R. Smith, aged 5 years, born Lothersdale, son of Henry and Emily Smith.
1911 Lothersdale, Yorkshire Census: Rose Cottage - William Robert Smith, aged 15 years, born Lothersdale, son of Emily Smith, widow.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte William R. Smith, 18771, W. Rid. R. K. in A. 7.7.16.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte William Robert Smith, 18771, 9 W. Rid. R. K. in A. 7.7.16.
Data Source: Local War Memorial
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Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
SMITH, Wm. Robert, aged 21, West Riding Regiment, Rose Cottage, [Lothersdale], killed in action July 7, 1916.
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Private William Robert SMITH
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 17th (Northern) Division
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Private William Robert Smith
Courtesy of Agnes Gunn, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Henry and Emily Smith, née Morgan, the parents of Pte Thomas Whitney Smith and Pte William Robert Smith
Courtesy of Agnes Gunn, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland
The family of Henry and Emily Smith, née Morgan
- back row (l-r) William Robert, John, Henry Morgan, Thomas Whitney, Elsie; front row (l-r) - Lily, Joseph Charles, Emily, Sarah Ann, Emily; front - Frank (Emily’s husband, Henry, had died in 1910)
Courtesy of Agnes Gunn, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
04 August 1916
LOTHERSDALE – Missing Lothersdale Soldier
Mrs. Smith, of Rose Cottage, received news from the War Office last Saturday morning that her son, Private William R. Smith, of the 9th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, has been reported missing. Pte. Smith, who enlisted last January, spent a few days at home last Easter and upon his return to camp his company were sent to France. No message had been received from him for three weeks. He is a particularly strong and finely-built young man and may be counted upon in all circumstances to do his duty. His many friends and admirers would rejoice to hear of his safety.
15 September 1916
ADDINGHAM [sic] – THE LATE PRIVATE W. R. SMITH
Sympathy to Mrs. Smith from the Lothersdale lads at the front is expressed in the following letter received last Tuesday morning:–
10th Platoon
‘C’ Company
Duke of Wellington Regiment
British Expeditionary Force
France
September 8th 1916
“Dear Mrs. Smith – I write to express my very deepest sympathy in your great loss. I had intended writing sooner, but have not had the opportunity. I was very sorry indeed when the news reached me that Willie had been killed. I had been looking forward to the time when all we Lothersdale lads would get home together safely and sound. If it is any consolation to you, and I think it will be, Willie died a noble death, fighting for his King and Country. We here are all very sorry for what has happened to him, but we are still proud of him. I saw Francis [Francis John Kay] and Alvin [Alvin Smith] the other night and together we agreed to send to you our deepest sympathy. I have seen Tommy (deceased’s brother) a few times since we came out of the trenches and he is looking fairly well under the circumstances. Of course, he feels his loss very much, but is taking it very bravely so I hope you will. It is very hard indeed, but God knows and sees further than we can and does things for the best. We don’t know what the future has in store for us here, but we are asking God to bring us safely home and I have faith that He will do so. With very deepest sympathy.
“I remain, very sincerely yours, GEO. ELVEY RIDDIOUGH”
13 October 1916
LOTHERSDALE MAN KILLED IN ACTION – PRIVATE ALVIN SMITH
On Monday morning Mr. Edmund Smith, Burlington Farm, received an official intimation that his eldest son Alvin, a private in the 1/7th West Riding Regiment, had been killed in action on Sunday, September 17th.
Private Smith was well known in the village and district, and highly esteemed by all who knew him. His younger brother John William joined the Colours soon after the declaration of war, but Alvin, who was his father’s right hand man on the farm, was not able to go until January of this year. He was a well-built youth, a pleasant and cheerful disposition and gave promise of becoming an excellent farmer.
He has made the ‘great sacrifice’ in his 21st year. He enlisted on the 29th January, the same day as Willie Smith, who was killed on July 7th. His loss is keenly felt by his parents, sisters and brother, and the sympathy of the whole village goes out to this bereaved family. A memorial service will be held in Lothersdale Church on Sunday morning, October 22nd.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
04 August 1916
MISSING LOTHERSDALE SOLDIER
Mrs. Smith, of Rose Cottage, received news from the War Office last Saturday morning that her son, Pte. Wm. H. [R.] Smith, of the 9th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, has been reported missing. Pte. Smith, who enlisted last January, spent a few days at home last Easter, and upon his return to camp his company were sent to France. No message has been received from him for three weeks. He is 21 years of age, and is a particularly strong and finely built young man, and may be counted upon in all circumstances to do his duty. His many friends and admirers would rejoice to hear of his safety.
25 August 1916
SMITH – July 7th, in France, Pte. W.R. Smith, of Rose Cottage, Lothersdale, aged 21.
25 August 1916
LOTHERSDALE SOLDIER KILLED
Private Wm. Robert Smith of the West Riding Regiment, son of Mrs. Smith of Rose Cottage, Lothersdale, who was officially reported missing in our issue of August 4th, is now officially reported as having been killed on July 7th. Private Smith, who is the first Lothersdale soldier to have been killed in action, enlisted in January. He spent a few days at home last Easter, and upon his return to camp his company were sent to France. He was 21 years of age, and was a particularly strong and fine built young man.
08 September 1916
LOTHERSDALE
MEMORIAL SERVICE – A memorial service to the late Private William R. Smith, who was the first Lothersdale soldier to be killed in action, was held at the Bethel Chapel last Sunday. Deceased had been connected with the Sunday School, and was a useful member of the choir. There was a large congregation present, the preacher being Mr. James Bailey, of Silsden. Special hymns were sung, and at the close of the service the organist played the Dead March in ‘Saul’.
13 October 1916
LOTHERSDALE’S ROLL OF HONOUR
On Monday morning Mr. Edmund Smith, Burlington Farm, received an official intimation that his eldest son Alvin, a private in the West Riding Regiment, had been killed in action on Sunday, September 17th. Private Smith was well known in the village and district, and highly esteemed by all who knew him. His younger brother, John William, joined the Colours soon after the declaration of war, but Alvin, who was his father’s right hand man on the farm, was not able to go until January of this year. He was a well-built youth, of a pleasant and cheerful disposition, and gave promise of becoming an excellent farmer. He has made the “great sacrifice” in his 21st year. He enlisted on January 29th – the same day as Willie Smith, who was killed on July 7th. His loss is keenly felt by his parents, sisters and brother, and the sympathy of the whole village goes out to this bereaved family. A memorial service will be held in Lothersdale Church on Sunday morning, October 22nd.
06 July 1917
LOTHERSDALE
WOUNDED – Mrs. Smith, Millyard, Lothersdale, has received a field card from her son, Pte. Thomas Smith, to the effect that he is in hospital in France wounded, but up to the present no further information has been received. Pte. Smith joined the army shortly after the outbreak of war, and has been in France about 18 months. His younger brother William was killed at the front last September.
03 May 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Lothersdale Soldier Dies of Wounds
After nearly three years’ service in or near the fighting line in France and Flanders, Pte. Thomas W. Smith, West Riding Regiment, whose home was at Rose Cottage, Lothersdale, has paid the supreme sacrifice, having died of wounds received on April 16th, in the recent heavy fighting on the Western front, an official intimation to this effect having been received by his mother on Monday last. Pte. Smith enlisted shortly after this outbreak of war, and was drafted into France in June, 1916, where he was slightly wounded in the jaw a few months ago. Pte. Smith was 24 years of age, and being of a bright and cheerful disposition, was well-known and respected throughout the village. A member of the Bethel Chapel from childhood, and a keen, capable, and enthusiastic athlete, his death is keenly felt in the village, and a whole-hearted sympathy is extended by all its inhabitant to his widowed mother and a family of brothers and sisters, who lost another brother, Pte. W. Smith, nearly two years ago.
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