William Frank Smith
A Second Lieutenant with 19th Reserve Squadron Royal Flying Corps, William died on 13th of May 1917 at the age of 28.
William was born at Lowestoft on 16 August 1888, a son of Sidney and Sarah Isabella Smith. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 20 September 1888. In 1891 his family lived at 10 Mariners Street. By 1911 his family were living at 37 High Street, and later they lived at 28 High Street. See house on LowestoftOldAndNow.org
William was living at Bondi, New South Wales, Australia, and working as an estate agent when attested for the Australian Army at Warwick farm Depot, on 14 September 1915.
He joined the 20th Battalion, service number 3267 A. He was transferred to the 56th Battalion, in Egypt, on 16 February 1916. His unit arrived at Marseilles, France, on 29 June 1916.
On 20 July 1916 he received a gunshot wound to his face. He underwent treatment at the 13th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne. He was discharged to Base Details, Etaples, on 1 August 1916.
William was promoted to Acting Sergeant on 13 September 1916. He reverted to Acting Corporal on 7 October 1916, then Private, on 2 November 1916. To Acting Corporal on 13 November 1916 and Private again from 17 November 1916.
On 17 November 1916 he went to England for flying instruction and instructed to join the Royal Flying Corps Officer Cadet Battalion at Denham. He was discharged from the Australian Army on 16 March 1917 to take a commission in the British Army.
He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps (Special Reserve) (London Gazette 10 April 1917). William passed his aviator’s certificate assessment at the Military Flying School, Ruislip, on 10 May 1917.
Initially he served with the 4th Reserve Squadron at Northolt, and, by May 1917, was serving with the 19th Reserve Squadron.
William was flying a DH1 aircraft, at Hounslow, which went into a nose dive and crashed: the cause being unknown.
William is commemorated on Saint Margaret's War Memorial.
Killed in a flying accident in DH1, 4634 CREDIT:Malcolm Barrass
Tags
William Smith
28
High Street
Lowestoft
United Kingdom
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