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 RFA was allocated the block
of numbers 750001 – 775000. Logically therefore, William Smith should have
a number falling within this sequence.
The National Archives holds a medal index card for a Driver
William C Smith of the Royal Field Artillery whose number is noted as 755202 (ie, within the above number sequence). The index card also notes this man’s original TF number: 1407. Again this is consistent with the information published in Chailey Parish Magazine in that the magazine
was noting in October 1916 that he was serving with this territorial unit. The
ranks of driver / gunner are the only inconsistencies and in the absence of more compelling evidence I am assuming that these
numbers relate to William C Smith of Chailey.
Sources and Acknowledgements
· 1901 Census of England and Wales
· Chailey Parish Magazine
· The National Archives: Medal
Index Card
· Ian Bowbrick for assistance
in identifying Royal Artillery formations from service numbers
