Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Person
Linked To
CollectionPlaceImage
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence lets you remix, tweak, and build upon our work noncommercially and although your new works must also acknowledge us and be noncommercial, you do not have to license the derivative works on the same terms.
Menu
- People
- Places
- Themes
- Surprise Me
Private William V. Smyth
Description
TitlePrivate William V. SmythSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionWilliam was born at Killinchy on 2 October 1895, son of William and Ellen Smyth. Before enlisting he was working as a farm hand for his father and was well known and greatly esteemed in the district. He was 5ft 6in tall with a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark hair.
William enlisted on 8 February 1916 and was assigned to the 13th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. He trained at Featherston and whilst there was confined to barracks for seven days and lost 1 day’s pay for overstaying his leave on 26 March 1916. He embarked for England 27 May 1916 and whilst at sea also infringed rules on 8th July resulting in another 7 days detention. He disembarked at Devonport on 26 July and marched in to Sling camp. He was posted to Canterbury Regiment on 28 July but the next day he was sent to Tidworth Military hospital with German Measles. It was a month before he was well enough to leave for France on 28 August and was attached to the strength a day later at Etaples. From there he joined the 1st Battalion CIR in the field on 22nd September. He served with them throughout the following year until he was detached to the School of Instruction on 9 September 1917 for two weeks training. Shortly after his return he was wounded in action on 12th October suffering a gunshot wound to his thigh. He was evacuated to England on 22 October and admitted to No.1 General Hospital at Brockenhurst the following day. He was at Brockenhurst for about a month before being sent to convalesce at Hornchurch on 21 November. Then he was sent on to Codford on 11th December to await re-assignment. He must have found it somewhat boring for whilst at Codford on 19th February 1918 he was absent without leave for a day and once again was confined to barracks and lost pay. Finally he was sent to Sling and attached to the 4th Reserve Battalion on 11th March. He returned to France and was attached to the strength at Etaples on 17 May, then out to the 2nd Entrenching Battalion on 19th May. He was sent to hospital “sick” on 12 June with pyrexia of unknown origin, usually meaning trench fever. Admitted to the No.1 American General Hospital he was treated and then sent to convalesce. Although he suffered a relapse on 3 July he was finally well enough to re-join the Entrenching Battalion in the field on 11 August. From there he was transferred back to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion and posted to 13th Company on 28 August. He went into action with them during the fighting on the Hindenburg Line around Cambrai and was killed in action on 8 October 1918, aged 23, at Le Cateau. He was initially buried in the German Cemetery at Lesdain 5 miles south, south East of Cambrai but after the war he was gathered in and now lies in the Honnechy British Cemetery, Le Cateau. In New Zealand William is remembered on the Leeston Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
Honnechy was part of the battlefield of Le Cateau in August 1914, and from that time it remained in German hands until the 9th October 1918, when the 25th Division and the 6th Cavalry Brigade captured it. It had been a German hospital centre, and from its capture until the end of October it was a British Field Ambulance centre. The village was inhabited by civilians during the whole of the war. The cemetery stands on the site of a German cemetery begun in the Battle of Cambrai 1917 and used by German troops and then by British until the 24 October 1918.First NameWilliamLast NameSmythFamilySon of William and Ellen SmythSingleDate of Birth2 October 1895Place of BirthKillinchyDate of Death8 October 1918Place of DeathFrance Cause of DeathKilled in action Age at Death23
William enlisted on 8 February 1916 and was assigned to the 13th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. He trained at Featherston and whilst there was confined to barracks for seven days and lost 1 day’s pay for overstaying his leave on 26 March 1916. He embarked for England 27 May 1916 and whilst at sea also infringed rules on 8th July resulting in another 7 days detention. He disembarked at Devonport on 26 July and marched in to Sling camp. He was posted to Canterbury Regiment on 28 July but the next day he was sent to Tidworth Military hospital with German Measles. It was a month before he was well enough to leave for France on 28 August and was attached to the strength a day later at Etaples. From there he joined the 1st Battalion CIR in the field on 22nd September. He served with them throughout the following year until he was detached to the School of Instruction on 9 September 1917 for two weeks training. Shortly after his return he was wounded in action on 12th October suffering a gunshot wound to his thigh. He was evacuated to England on 22 October and admitted to No.1 General Hospital at Brockenhurst the following day. He was at Brockenhurst for about a month before being sent to convalesce at Hornchurch on 21 November. Then he was sent on to Codford on 11th December to await re-assignment. He must have found it somewhat boring for whilst at Codford on 19th February 1918 he was absent without leave for a day and once again was confined to barracks and lost pay. Finally he was sent to Sling and attached to the 4th Reserve Battalion on 11th March. He returned to France and was attached to the strength at Etaples on 17 May, then out to the 2nd Entrenching Battalion on 19th May. He was sent to hospital “sick” on 12 June with pyrexia of unknown origin, usually meaning trench fever. Admitted to the No.1 American General Hospital he was treated and then sent to convalesce. Although he suffered a relapse on 3 July he was finally well enough to re-join the Entrenching Battalion in the field on 11 August. From there he was transferred back to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion and posted to 13th Company on 28 August. He went into action with them during the fighting on the Hindenburg Line around Cambrai and was killed in action on 8 October 1918, aged 23, at Le Cateau. He was initially buried in the German Cemetery at Lesdain 5 miles south, south East of Cambrai but after the war he was gathered in and now lies in the Honnechy British Cemetery, Le Cateau. In New Zealand William is remembered on the Leeston Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
Honnechy was part of the battlefield of Le Cateau in August 1914, and from that time it remained in German hands until the 9th October 1918, when the 25th Division and the 6th Cavalry Brigade captured it. It had been a German hospital centre, and from its capture until the end of October it was a British Field Ambulance centre. The village was inhabited by civilians during the whole of the war. The cemetery stands on the site of a German cemetery begun in the Battle of Cambrai 1917 and used by German troops and then by British until the 24 October 1918.First NameWilliamLast NameSmythFamilySon of William and Ellen SmythSingleDate of Birth2 October 1895Place of BirthKillinchyDate of Death8 October 1918Place of DeathFrance Cause of DeathKilled in action Age at Death23
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OnePlaceKillinchy
ImageLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
ImageLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial CenotaphMilitary Service
Memorial or CemeteryHonnechy British CemeteryEllesmere County War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingFarm Hand Regiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry BattalionEnlistment Details8th February 1916Service Number24232Embarkation27th May 1916TransportWillochraTofuaReinforcement13th Reinforcements, C CompanyCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. SeatonTaken FromPhoto taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license
Private William V. Smyth. Selwyn Stories, accessed 16/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/232
