Identity
Person No.
23643
Service No.
7705
Last Name
First Name
William Henry
Initials
W H
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
25
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
DOW 2,734
Died of wounds
Cause of Death
Died of wounds, received in front the Butte de Warlencourt. On the 12th October, the 2nd and 4th S.A.I. attacked Snag and Tail Trenches. The assault died away because of machine guns nests, placed well back in prepared positions, which caught the attacking waves at long range. The two battalions, which had suffered heavily, were relieved by the 3rd S.A.I. during the night of the 12th-13th October
Military Service
Location
Country
Locality
Grave Reference
Coordinates
Memorial
Memorial
Location
Durban Light Infantry Headquarters, Durban
Address
Coordinates
Panel
On the panel
Position on the panel will be added with photographs
Notes
Adopted son of Rhoda Walkden, of 2nd House, Berridale Rd., Mayville, Durban, Natal. Native of Bolton, Lancs., England.
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
K.M. Jordan — DLI research (ABW / WWI ROH)
K.M. Jordan, Durban Light Infantry: WWI Roll of Honour ("Work in Progress" draft, July/Aug 2026; email to John/Bobby, 3 Sep 2026). Local file data/jordan_dli_wwi_roh_2026-08.pdf (Downloads: "1. Durban Light Infantry WWI ROH - July, Aug 2026.pdf"). WWI ROH #137 Private SMITH, William Henry, age 26, Force No 7705, 1st South African Infantry Brigade: Born Bolton, Lancashire, England 1890; an iron moulder before enlistment; served with the Durban Light Infantry in GSWA 1914 – 1915; served with the 2nd Regiment in France; fought at Delville Wood in July 1916; WIA (GSW to back & side) in an unsuccessful attack on German defensive lines in front of the Butte de Warlencourt, Somme 12/10/1916; died of wounds in the Casualty Clearing Station, 3 days … Buried/commemorated: Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. (Also, on the Durban Light Infantry & the Durban Cenotaph WWI Memorials.)
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
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