William's Story.
Birkenhead News 08 February 1919The Late Lieut. Smith, R.A.F.
Lieut. W. Smith, R.A.F., whose death took place through his machine side-slipping whilst he was making a trip in Scotland, was the second son of the late Mr. Robert Smith (who was a well-known iron merchant of Birkenhead), and of Mrs. C. A. Smith, of 8, Hawthorne Road, Moreton. The late officer, who was only 18 ½ years of age at the time of his death, joined the R.A.M.C. in September, 1914. He was then of course only 15 years of age, and he experienced all the hardships of the Gallipoli campaign. He was invalided out of the army in 1916, but determined to “do his bit” he joined the Royal Naval Reserve in the same year. He served on H.M.S. “Delta” and “Olympia”. He was transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service as a cadet in the February of 1917, and was gazetted in the following October. He served three months as a pilot in France, but he was brought home for service with the Grand Fleet. He was attached to H.M.S. “Furious” and H.M.S. “Valiant” – in fact he was with the last named ship at the time of the fatal accident. A pathetic point of the case is that he was daily expected home for a 28 days’ leave prior to being gazetted as captain. Mrs. Smith has the sympathy of a large circle of friends in her sad bereavement.
William's grave in Flaybrick Cemetery, Birkenhead.
