SMITH, Walter Thomas

Walter Smith was the son of Mrs Thomas Smith of Moor Street, Brierley Hill. He enlisted in the Worcesters in 1900 and served in the 2nd Battalion during the Boer War. This was followed by over five years’ service in India, by which time he had been promoted to Sergeant. When war broke out in 1914, the Battalion was in the British Expeditionary Force at Aldershot. It mobilized quickly and crossed the Channel to Belgium on the 12th August. Walter Smith endured the gruelling 150 mile retreat from Mons, the vital victories on the Aisne and the great success at Gheluvelt in repelling the first German attack on Ypres. He was promoted to Sergeant Major and in 1915 fought through the battles in Artois. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on the 30th April 1916 and was then plunged into the Battle of the Somme. He was twice wounded and was on sick leave for four months after the second occasion. He returned to the front line in February and was sent to the Bedfordshire Regiment. The 8th Battalion was stationed on what had become an area of evil repute: the line from the Cuinchy brick-stacks to the Hohenzollern Redoubt. It was largely quiet since the enemy had been exhausted by their experience on the Somme. But there raids and counter-raids and 2/Ltd Walter Smith was killed in action on the 3rd March 1917. He is buried in Cambrin Military Cemetery (H 16) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials. The County Express report emphasized his length of service to the country.