Smith MM, William Henry

Hull Pals Memorial Post. CPL WILLIAM HENRY SMITH MM 30911. Born in Burstwick in July 1889, William was the youngest of ten children to John Hardy Smith (1842-1909) and Agnes Langdale Smith (1844-1919), of 26 King Street, Cottingham. A Boot Repairer by trade, he seems to have thrived as a soldier rising to the rank of Corporal and showing enough courage under fire to be awarded the Military Medal. William had lost his father in 1909 and appears to have been the only child left living at home which must have made the blow all the worse for Agnes Smith when her youngest son died of wounds at the hospital centre at St. Omer on 1st July 1918. He is buried in Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery, St Omer, France, he was 28.