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May 5, 1889
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Born in Edinburgh, Scotland
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Mar 8, 1912
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Married to Margaret Bishop “Maggie” Simpson in
Belleville, Ontario
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Jul 2, 1915
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Attested into the 59th Battalion CEF
in Belleville, Ontario
Ø Number 454873
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs.
William C (Margaret) Smith, wife, 21 Campbell St., Belleville, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as
Plumber
Ø No previous military
experience given
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
Ø Posted to the Headquarters
Staff
The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario
area
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Oct 11, 1915
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Admitted to the Queen Street Military Hospital in
Kingston with a diagnosis that reads Influenza
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Oct 17, 1915
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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Apr 1, 1916
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Embarked the SS Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Apr 11, 1916
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Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded
to the Bordon Camp
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Jul 6, 1916
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Transferred to the 39th Reserve
Battalion in West Sandling
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Jan 4, 1917
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Transferred to the newly formed 6th
Reserve Battalion in West Sandling. Shortly
after the battalion’s formation, it moved to Seaford to train reinforcements
for the front
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Apr 21, 1917
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Transferred to the 21st Battalion
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Apr 22, 1917
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the
Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 3,000 reinforcements from
England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
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May 11, 1917
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After leaving the base depot, he joined the 2nd
Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin, France as part of a draft of 34
reinforcements destined to join the 21st Battalion
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Jun 12, 1917
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After leaving the entrenching battalion, Private
Smith joined the 21st Battalion resting in Coupigny, France and was
posted to “D” Company.
Private Smith also performed with the 21st
Battalion’s Brass Band
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Jul 6, 1917
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While the 21st Battalion was in
billets in Bouvigny-Boyeflles, France, Private Smith carved his name on the
wall of the Bell Tower in the church adjacent to the battalion
headquarters. This photo is courtesy
of Patrice Machin
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Feb 8, 1918
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Granted 14 days leave
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Feb 23, 1918
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Rejoined the battalion resting in the Alberta
Camp near Carency, France
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Aug 27, 1918
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While the 21st Battalion was advancing
on the Sensee River south east of Vis en Artois, France, in a position about
400 yards south of the Arras-Cambrai Road (now Hwy D939), Private Smith
received a shrapnel wound to his left leg. He was evacuated to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian
Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the Casualty
Clearing Centre. The shrapnel had
fractured the Fibula bone
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Aug 29, 1918
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Transferred to the 2nd Australian
General Hospital in Boulogne, France
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Aug 31, 1918
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Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St
Denis
On arrival in England, he was admitted to the
County of Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury, London
Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario
Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital
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Oct 6, 1918
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Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital
in Epsom
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Mar 10, 1919
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Discharged from hospital and granted sick leave
Transferred to the 6th Reserve
Battalion
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Mar 22, 1919
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Joined the 6th Reserve Battalion in
Seaford from leave
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Apr 17, 1919
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Transferred to Military District No. 3 in Kinmel
Park, pending return to Canada
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May 11, 1919
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Embarked the SS Saturnia in Glasgow, Scotland
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May 21, 1919
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Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to
Kingston, Ontario
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May 22, 1919
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Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø War Service Badge Class “A”
issued number 279631
Ø Proposed residence on
discharge 27 Earl St., Belleville, Ontario
Following his discharge, the British War Medal
and Victory Medals were sent to him at 27 Earl St., Belleville, Ontario
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May 22, 1922
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William’s wife Margaret died at home of Pulmonary
Tuberculosis and was buried in the Belleville, Ontario Cemetery
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Apr 3, 1923
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Married to Maisie Lindsay in Belleville, Ontario.
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