Pte
Wilfrid Smith
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1879 |
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Place of birth: Golcar, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Weaver |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 300316 |
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Enlistment place: Halifax, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), 1/6th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 18/03/1918 |
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Place of death: Judge Subsector, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 39 |
Cemetery
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Polygon Wood Cemetery Plot: / Row: H Grave: 12 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Wilfrid Smith was born in Golcar, a village near Huddersfield in the West Riding of Yorkshire. According to the 1911 census he lived in Huddersfield, worked as a weaver, was married to Carrie Whitwam and had two children, Winifred and Frank. By 1918 Wilfrid served in the 1/6th Regiment, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, part of the 147th Brigade, of the 49th (West Riding) Division.
In March 1918, his battalion was stationed in the Judge Subsector, on the Broodseinde Ridge. In the early hours of the 18th of March 1918, the Germans heavily shelled the frontline trenches and support lines of the battalion, after which they attempted to enter the trenches in front of “C” Company. The Germans were driven off by rifle fire. At dawn several German rifles and a cap were found in the front trench. Sixteen men were wounded and four men had been killed. Private Wilfrid Smith, 39, was killed, together with Serjeant Robert Green, 31, Private William Barrett, 21, and Private Charles Atha.
According to the battalion’s war diary they were all buried near the hamlet of Molenaarelsthoek, in the Noord Subsector, which was also held by the 147th Brigade. Wilfrid’s remains were reinterred in Polygon Wood Cemetery. The three others are remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
In March 1918, his battalion was stationed in the Judge Subsector, on the Broodseinde Ridge. In the early hours of the 18th of March 1918, the Germans heavily shelled the frontline trenches and support lines of the battalion, after which they attempted to enter the trenches in front of “C” Company. The Germans were driven off by rifle fire. At dawn several German rifles and a cap were found in the front trench. Sixteen men were wounded and four men had been killed. Private Wilfrid Smith, 39, was killed, together with Serjeant Robert Green, 31, Private William Barrett, 21, and Private Charles Atha.
According to the battalion’s war diary they were all buried near the hamlet of Molenaarelsthoek, in the Noord Subsector, which was also held by the 147th Brigade. Wilfrid’s remains were reinterred in Polygon Wood Cemetery. The three others are remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 5
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Sources used |
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Barber, Stephen. Guiseley Terries: a small part in the Great War: a history of the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2018, pp. 163-165. Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480071/smith,-wilfrid/ Sources used |
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Naval and Military Archive http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Sources used |