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May 11, 1877
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Born in Ottawa, Ontario to John and Mary (nee
O’Connell) Smith
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Oct 18, 1899
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Attested into the 2nd (Special Service)
Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry for service in South Africa
Ø Number 7547
Ø Next of kin given as John
Smith, father, Ottawa, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as
Carpenter
Ø Previous military experience
given as 43rd Battalion Ottawa Rifles, Ottawa, Ontario
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
Ø Posted to “D” Company
Private Smith proceeded to South Africa in
November, 1899
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Jun 5, 1900
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Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal
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Dec 25, 1900
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After returning to Canada, Lance Corporal Smith
was discharged from service in Halifax, Nova Scotia
On discharge he was entitled to the Queen’s South
Africa Medal with clasps for: Paardeberg, Dreifontein, Johannesburg, and Cape
Colony
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Sep 17, 1902
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Married to Mabel Priscilla Monson in Ottawa,
Ontario
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Apr 27, 1908
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During the Summer Olympics held in London,
England, William Smith won a Bronze Medal in the Men’s Team Military Rifle
Competition
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Nov 7, 1914
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Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59898 (temporary number 6)
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs. Mabel Priscilla Smith, wife, 185
Bolton St., Ottawa, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Carpenter
Ø Previous military experience given as Governor General’s Foot
Guard in Ottawa
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
Ø Posted to the Headquarters Section
On attesting, he was appointed to the provisional rank of
Pioneer Sergeant
The 21st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario
area through the winter of 1914-15.
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Devonport, England and the
battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue
training
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Jul 1, 1915
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Confirmed in the rank of Pioneer Sergeant
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion
proceeded to St. Omer
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Aug 11, 1916
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Attached to the 1st Canadian Division
to be employed as a Sniping Instructor
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Dec 10, 1916
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At his own request, he was transferred to the 1st
Battalion, Canadian Infantry and remained attached to the 1st Canadian
Division as a Sniping Instructor
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Dec 14, 1917
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Transferred to the WORD (Western Ontario
Regimental Depot) in Bramshott, England pending return to Canada for
instructional duty
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Dec 16, 1917
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Attached to the CTS (Canadian Training School)
for a special refresher course
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Jan 22, 1918
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Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in
Buxton pending return to Canada
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Jan 24, 1918
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Promoted to the rank of CSM (Company Sergeant
Major)
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Feb 2, 1918
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Embarked the SS Olympic in Liverpool
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Feb 13, 1918
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded
to Kingston, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength the Military District No.
3 Casualty Company
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Feb 23, 1918
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Transferred to the 1st Depot Battalion,
Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Kingston
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Jul 11, 1918
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After being transferred to the 2nd
Depot Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Ottawa, he was admitted
to the Ottawa General Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Influenza
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Jul 15, 1918
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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Oct 8, 1918
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Promoted to the rank of RQMS (Regimental
Quartermaster Sergeant)
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Feb 18, 1919
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Discharged from the CEF in Ottawa, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Regimental
Quartermaster Sergeant
Ø Entitled to War Service Badge
Class “A”
Ø Proposed residence on
discharge 185 Bolton St., Ottawa, Ontario
Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star,
British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 185 Bolton St.,
Ottawa, Ontario
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Mar 12, 1953
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William Alfred Smith died of a heart attack while
in an Ottawa hospital and was buried in the Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa
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