Private 242271 William Smith
Bolton Evening News - Friday April 20th 1917.
Regiment/Unit: Loyal North Lancashire Regiment - 1st/5th Bn.
Theatre of War: France & Flanders
Previous Reg/Num: 4815, L N Lancs Regt.
Age at death: 23
Date of death: 8th of August 1916
Born: St Helens, Lancs
Resided: Bolton, Lancs
Burial / Memorial: Delville Wood Cemetery Longueval - XVII. J. 6.
Family details:
Son of William and Jane Smith, of 79, Ellesmere Rd., Daubhill, Bolton.
Census details:
1901 - [b](See notes below):[/b] 7 years old William Eccleston is living at 66 Sloan Street(?), Bolton with parents Thomas Eccleston (43), Jane Eccleston (43) and three siblings: Agnes Eccleston (20), Louisa Eccleston (17), Eliza Eccleston (11), William Eccleston (7). Boardin at the address is Betsy Hilton (18). 1911 - Sees 17 years old 'Lasher On' William living at 22 Haynes Street, Daubhill, Bolton with stepfather William Smith (53), mother Jane (54) and two step(?) brothers: Robert (18), John (16).
Notes:
Information submitted by family member Harry Johnson:- [quote]William was my mother's uncle and I have his service medals in my possession. His birth name was not Smith but Eccleston. His father drowned in St Helens Canal in 1901 and he adopted the name of his stepfather when his mother remarried a Mr Smith in 1903. William was born at St Helens in 1893 and I have a copy of his birth certificate. I have details of his whereabouts at the 1901 census to fill in the blank on the board. He was William Eccleston at the time so obviously you would not have found him as Smith.[/quote]
Information submitted by family member Harry Johnson:- [quote]William was my mother's uncle and I have his service medals in my possession. His birth name was not Smith but Eccleston. His father drowned in St Helens Canal in 1901 and he adopted the name of his stepfather when his mother remarried a Mr Smith in 1903. William was born at St Helens in 1893 and I have a copy of his birth certificate. I have details of his whereabouts at the 1901 census to fill in the blank on the board. He was William Eccleston at the time so obviously you would not have found him as Smith.[/quote]
[pic]tpics/NP_242271_William_Smith.png[/pic][caption]Bolton Evening News - Friday April 20th 1917.
(Photo and article submitted by relative Harry Johnson)[/caption]
[pic]tpics/Smith_W_242271_LNL.jpg[/pic][caption]The headstone of Private William Smith at Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval
(Photo courtesy of Ste M.)[/caption]
