Royal Field Artillery, 11th Division, Service no. 20409
Killed in action 7th August 1915, aged 22
Story
The son of George Jefferson Smith and Charlotte Styan, William was born in Kippax in 1892. His father died when he was just one-year-old, and his mother Charlotte re-married Jim Bleasby in 1895, and the family moved to 38 William Street, Lock Lane, Castleford. William was a Gunner in the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery. He enlisted in Leeds, and was killed in action, aged 23, on the 7th Aug 1915 in Gallipoli, when the British stormed Lala Baba.
Lala Baba is a low hill between the southern side of Suvla Bay and a salt lake. It was stormed mainly by the 9th and 6th West Yorkshire Regiments on the early morning of 7 August 1915. The attack achieved few of its objectives, and hundreds were killed. The cemetery was formed after the Armistice by the concentration of nine smaller cemeteries and a few isolated graves from the surrounding area. William is buried at the Lala Baba Cemetery, Suvla (II D 2):
William’s mother Charlotte received £3 19s on 5th January 1916, and his step father Jim Bleasby received a further £3 on 26th August 1919, reflecting how little time William had spent in the army until he was killed.
Kippax Roll of Honour 