Sunday, February 22, 2015

Gunner William C Smith, 2/2nd Durham, Royal Garrison Artillery

The W C Smith first noted by Chailey Parish Magazine in October 1916 as a gunner with the 2/2 Durham Royal Garrison Artillery in England is possibly William C Smith who appears on the 1901 census living, at what looks like, Chafed Land, Chailey village.
 
The household comprised Janus C Smith (head, married, aged 36, working as a gardener), his wife Mary Ann Smith (aged 53) and three children: William (aged 21, also working as a gardener), Kate L Smith (aged 16) and Edith B Smith (aged 13).  Frank Peacock, aged eight, and born in Charlton, Kent, is noted as a nephew and the household is completed by Cecil E Matthews, aged five and recorded as a grandson.

Gunner Smith appears monthly in the parish magazine, up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. 

When the Territorial Force was re-numbered in February 1917, the 2/2nd Durham RGA was allocated the block of numbers 337001 – 340000.  Logically therefore, William Smith should have a number falling within this sequence although I have yet to identify a number for this man.


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