Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 42267 William Smethurst

Age: 30
From: Oldham, Lancs
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
K.I.A Saturday 28th April 1917
Commemorated at: Wancourt Brit Cem
Panel Ref: Signal Trench Mem.1

William Smethurst was born in Middleton Junction, near Oldham, Lancashire, on the 2nd November 1886, the youngest surviving son of William Henry Smethurst and his wife and Cecilia (née Higgins). His father, from Oldham, and his mother, from Ireland, married on the 5th September 1874 at St Peter’s, Liverpool. William snr was bookkeeper of West Derby, father Michael a carder, whilst Cecelia was of Bispham St, father Gerald a labourer. They had ten children, only five of whom are found on censuses: he had older siblings Harry, born in Liverpool, Richard (Dick), Robert (Bob), and Beatrice (Beaty), all born in Oldham.

He was baptised in St. Peter’s Church, Oldham, on 19th December 1886, his parents’ residence given as Middleton Junction and his father’s occupation licensed victualler.

By 1891 the family has moved to Liverpool and is living at 98 Green Lane, with five children and a domestic servant. His father is aged 41, a licensed victualler, mother is aged 39, born in Dublin, eldest brother Harry, 16, is a barman, at school are Richard 10, Robert G. 7, and Beatrice 6. William is 4. The also have a 19 year old servant Maggie McCarrick from Ireland.

Gores Directory of 1894 shows Wellington Hotel, William Henry Smethurst, 93 Green Lane, Stoneycroft

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 44 Everton Road, Everton. His father is aged 51 and is a publican, his mother is 48, Robert, 17, is an apprentice printer, Beatrice is 16, William is 14, an office boy, grandson Harry Smethurst (son of brother Harry) is 4; they have three boarders.

His father died on the 16th April 1905, aged 54, and his eldest brother Harry died in 1906, at the age of 31.

His father's death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on Tuesday 18 April 1905:

SMETHURST—April 16, at Gretna Green Hotel, 15, Beckwith-street, Liverpool, aged 56(sic) years, William Henry Smethurst, son of the late Richard Smethurst, of Lee's Brook, Oldham. (Friends kindly accept this, the only, intimation.)

By the time of the 1911 Census, his widowed mother, Cecelia, aged 58, is the licensed victualler at the Nag’s Head, 74 Netherfield Road North, Liverpool. William is 24, a barman, and his nephew Harry, 14, is a draper’s shop assistant. Cecelia states that six of the ten children have died.

His mother died later that year, in November 1911, aged 59.

When he was 25 William married Christine Farrelly, 22, in St. Peter’s Church, Everton, on 23rd January 1912. As he gives his address as 74 Netherfield Road North, and his occupation as licensed victualler, it appears that William managed the pub after his mother died. Christine was aged 22, of 6 Rupert Grove, father John also a licensed victualler.

As Christine was Catholic, they were also married in a Catholic ceremony on the 03rd February 1913 in Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Liverpool.

They had three daughters: Eileen May was born on 10th October 1912, Lillian on 06th August 1913, and Christine Beatrice (known as Beaty, like her aunt) on 09th October 1914.

He enlisted in Liverpool joining in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 42267. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that William had served for one year, enlisting, or being conscripted, in about April 1916.

William was killed in action on the 28th April 1917 aged 30.

On the 28th April 1917, the Battalion was in the trenches East of Henniel, and whilst waiting relief by the 7th Battalion The Middlesex Regiment, its flanks were attacked by the Germans and its lines were shelled. This attack commenced at 03.00am. During the course of the relief, whilst the Battalion was moving to new positions west of Wancourt, Second-Lieutenant Band and 11 other ranks were killed, and a further 11 other ranks were wounded.

CWGC records show that William was buried in Signal Trench Cemetery, described as being on the far side of the ridge between Wancourt and Cherisy, “in a rather broken part of the British front line”, where 22 British Soldiers were buried in April and May 1917. His grave was marked with a cross, (no.91, showing 16/ Londons), but after the war when the Graves Registration Units were concentrating graves, the record states “no bodies found”.

He is commemorated at Wancourt British Cemetery, France at Signal Trench Memorial No.1. The inscription on his headstone reads:

“NEVER FORGOTTEN BY WIFE AND CHILDREN AND SISTER”

Wancourt was captured on 12 April 1917 after very heavy fighting and the advance was continued on the following days. The cemetery, called at first Cojeul Valley Cemetery, or River Road Cemetery, was opened about ten days later; it was used until October 1918, but was in German hands from March 1918 until 26 August, when the Canadian Corps recaptured Wancourt. At the Armistice, the cemetery contained 410 graves, but was very greatly increased in the following years when graves were brought in from the following small cemeteries and isolated positions on the battlefields south-east of Arras icluding HENIN-SUR-COJEUL, about 800 metres North of the village, contained the graves of 29 British soldiers who fell on 9 April 1917, almost all of whom belonged to the 2nd Wilts or the 18th King's Liverpools. The cemetery now contains 1,936 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 829 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 76 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to 20 who were buried in Signal Trench Cemetery whose graves were destroyed in later battles. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His widow placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on the 09th May 1917:

“April 28, killed in action, aged 30 years, Private William Smethurst, the beloved husband of Chris Smethurst (née Farrelly), 15 Castor Street.

You rest in peace my loved one,

‘Tis sweet to breathe they name;

In life I loved you dearly.

In death I do the same.

(Deeply mourned by his sorrowing Wife and Children Eileen, Lilian, and Beaty.)”

And his siblings, in the same newspaper:

“In loving memory of our dear brother Willie, killed in action April 28, son of the late W.H. and C. Smethurst, late of the Nag’s Head Hotel, Netherfield Road. - Beaty, Dick (R.G.A.), and Bob and Harry (both in France).”

William's death was reported in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 02 June 1917:

Private William Smethurst, K.L.R., who was killed instantaneously in action on April 28th, before joining up was engaged at the Nags Head Hotel, Netherfield Road, and resided our 15 Castor Street, Liverpool. He leaves a widow and three children.

He earned his two medals.

His daughters were 4, 3, and 2 years old when William was killed. His widow Christine, at 15 Castor Street, Belmont Road, received his Army effects, Army Pay of £2 12s 11d and a War Gratuity of £3, as well as a pension of £1-6s-3d for herself and three children from November 1917.

On the 1921 Census at 15 Castor St, widowed Christine is aged 28, a barmaid but not working, born Bray, Co.Dublin, children Eileen 8, Lillian 7, and Christine 6. She also has a married boarder William Henry Caizerguis 38.

In 1939 Christine is living with daughters Eileen, a gents’ tailoress, and Lillian, working in an ice cream factory, both 26, at 5 Durant Road.

His widow, Christine, died in 1963, her age given as 70. The pension card shows Christine’s birthdate as 1890, whereas the 1939 Register states 1893.

Of his daughters; Eileen died in 1987 aged 75, Lilian married in 1940, had a family, and died in 1988 and the youngest Christine married in 1934, had a family, and died in 2000, aged 85.

His brother Robert enlisted on 01st November 1915, served in the 17th Bn K.L.R. as Pte. 32839, then transferred to the 7th Bn, and was again transferred to the Labour Corps. He served on the western front from August 1916 to February 1918.

His nephew Harry enlisted in October 1916, served in France 1917-1918 as a driver with the Royal Artillery, and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.

William is commemorated on Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 42 (21st Batt).

Grateful thanks are extended to Ancestry member NeilGilbert20 who has given permission for us to use the photograph of William on the website.

We currently have no further information on William Smethurst, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Killed On This Day.

(109 Years this day)
Saturday 28th April 1917.
2nd Lieut Lawrence Band
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Saturday 28th April 1917.
L/Cpl 49033 John Brown
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Saturday 28th April 1917.
Pte 34316 Fred Comley
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Saturday 28th April 1917.
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Saturday 28th April 1917.
Pte 58019 Edward Heath
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Saturday 28th April 1917.
Pte 49052 Dewi Peter John
24 years old

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Saturday 28th April 1917.
Pte 24605 James Knight
23 years old

(109 Years this day)
Saturday 28th April 1917.
Pte 49007 Harry Charles Murray
27 years old

(109 Years this day)
Saturday 28th April 1917.
Pte 49109 John Norton
21 years old

(109 Years this day)
Saturday 28th April 1917.
L/Cpl 49050 Joseph Schofield Orrell
27 years old

(109 Years this day)
Saturday 28th April 1917.
Pte 42267 William Smethurst
30 years old

(109 Years this day)
Saturday 28th April 1917.
Pte 51721 Alfred Archibald Speet
32 years old

A total of 33 Pals were killed on this day. View All