William's Story.
Christ Church WW1 Memorial remembers a William Smeeton with the R.G.A. (Royal Garrison Artillery.) With that information we find;
C.W.G.C. remember a William Smeeton, Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery, 234th Siege Bty., Service No 152611, who died on the 20th October 1917, aged 28, at the Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery (X.E.4.) With the additional Information; Son of John and Harriet Gertrude Smeeton, of Weaver Terrace, 36 Runcorn Road, Barton, Northwich, Cheshire. Native of Ecclesfield, Sheffield.
N.A.M.C. have a medal card for Smeeton William, with the Royal Garrison Artillery, Gunner, No152611, awarded the British and Victory medals, T.o.W & D.o.E. not addressed.
Cheshirebmd does not record the birth of a William Smeeton. Freebmd records a William Smeeton born 1889, Wortley. The 1901 census has the Smeeton family living at 6 Tunnel Road, Barnton. John, father and head of the family aged 43, salt boiler, born Staffordshire; Harriet, wife aged 45, born Melton Mowbray; William aged 11 born Ecclesfield, Yorks; John aged 7 born Barnton; George aged 5 born Barnton. William is missing from the 1911 census, brothers John Henry, 17 and George 15 are both working as Painters Labourer.
The 1911 census has a William Smeeton aged 21, servant, (one of 11 servants) a Footman, for a George Dixon, born Ecclesfield. (George Dixon is likely to be part of the Astle Park, Dixon family at Chelford, 1842-1924.)
Northwich Guardian 23rd November 1917. GUNNER W. SMEETON, A BARNTON HERO.
Gunner W. Smeeton (Barnton) of the Royal Garrison Artillery, has been killed whilst carrying in wounded, a task he volunteered to undertake. Gunner Smeeton, who is a son of Mr. and Mrs Smeeton, of Weaver View, was, in civil life, an employee at Plumbley works. He joined up early in the war and saw much heavy fighting. The news of his death was sent home by his brother, George, who is in the same battery and who wrote:- “Things have gone hard with us. On October 20th I am grieved to tell poor Will was sent to his last long rest. Our detachment, including Will, had to go to the battery to carry shells. Before we had finished the second load, the enemy started shelling and whilst we were sheltering one of the “biffies” (A slang term for a trench latrines or outhouse/toilets.) was blown in by the concussion from a shell. Will with his party went out under shell fire to release the men who were imprisoned. Two were seriously hurt and whilst they were carrying them on stretchers to a Red Cross station, shells were falling pretty hard. When quite near the Red Cross Station two shells burst on them and killed the whole party, six of them, including the stretcher cases, whilst five others who were near were wounded. I did not get to know definitely that he was killed until I stepped into the battery office……. Don’t get down hearted. I am coming back some day and I want to see you happy. Don’t worry about me. I am in the best of health. Cheer up. I will write as often as I can. “Cheer-O” always Willie’s word, so “Cheer-O” Mother and Dad. Just remember it was a noble act. He volunteered to remove the wounded under shell fire when he was killed.”
Brunner Mond and Co., Their Roll of Honour booklet includes at the rear of the book under the section for post WW1 employees a heading for Plumbley Works. William Smeeton is not included in this R.o.H. The Plumbley Works part of the Ammonia Soda Company came under the Ministry of Munitions and Brunner Mond took over operations in 1916.
George Smeeton
N.A.M.C. have 3 medal cards for lads named George Smeeton, one lad is with the Royal Garrison Artillery as stated in George’s letter and that is George Smeeton, Royal Garrison Artillery No 150725, Gunner, awarded the Victory and British medals, T.o.W. and D.o.E. not addressed.
George would have been about 21 when he his brother, William, was killed.
There are some service documents for George Smeeton, the first sheet gives an address of 36 Runcorn Rd., Barnton., George was 19 and a Chemical Labourer, single, when he enlisted with a date of April 1917 but much of the documents are faded and impossible to read.
Freebmd records the marriage of a George Smeeton/Murial J. Unstead in Battle, Sussex in 1919.
The 1921 census records the Smeeton family living at 36 Runcorn Road, Barnton, John head of the family with his wife Harriet, son George aged 25, his occupation is House Painter/Decorator for a Joseph Phipps, George is married to Murial Joyce and they have a son Kenneth who was less than one month old.
Research Bob H.