William's Story.
William Smith was born in 1889 to Thomas and Fanny Smith. In 1911 the family are found living at 37 Waterloo Road Runcorn and in the house are William (22) Richard (18), Ellen (15), Edith (13) and Hilda (11).
William is listed as a Waterman as is his brother Richard.
Runcorn Weekly News - Friday 26 October 1917
KILLED ON THE FIELD. Mrs smith. of 37. Waterloo road. has received the sad news of the death in action of her second son, Lance Corporal William Smith of the Cheshire Regiment. The official news has been received and also a letter from a friend, who says " Your son Will was my best chum and it is very hard for me to tell you that he was killed on the field on the 21st of this month. He was killed along with four others of his gun team by a shell. All the boys here thought a lot about him, as he was a merry lad to be with, and I feel the loss of him very much. Lance Corporal smith, who was 28 years of age, enlisted on February 7th 1916 and went out to France five months later. Prior to the war he was employed by Messrs cooper and son of Widnes. He was a member of the RAOB and also of the Dukes Runcorn, his father, the late Captain Smith, was very well known and highly respected when in charge of the Corporal Smith was equally as well respected by everyone with whom he came in contact. He was a member of the St. Pauls Wesleyan Church and attended Brunswick Sunday School. He received his early education at the Victoria road Council school.
At the time of his death, the Cheshire's were in action at the Battle of Passchendaele and if was during this battle that William met his death.
William is also commemorated on a marble plaque in the Brunswick Chapel.
Compiled by Graeme Ainsworth