Current Information:

Age-17

20, Craigerne Road, Blackheath

60th Division, made up entirely of 2nd line territorial battalions from London, went to France in June, 1916 where they remained until they were sent to Salonika at the end of the year. During the six months spent on the Western Front they were employed in holding the front line around Arras and were one of the few divisions in France to avoid the Battle of the Somme.

William Smith of 2/15th London battalion of 179 Brigade, 60th Division was killed in action on 3rd July when in the front line at Ecoivres, to the north of Arras. Most records, including those of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, show him as being part of 1/15th London but at time that battalion was undergoing training near St Pol, many miles behind the front line. 2/15th London however had just arrived in the sector to the nlrth of Arras, and it is on the Arras Memorial to the missing that he is commemorated.