Private. 2/4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment). Service number 265897.
Early life:
Cecil was born in Oakworth in 1896, registered in Keighley in the second quarter of the year. His parents Frederick and Sarah Smith. Frederick was a draper, stationer and newsagent.
By 1901 he was 5 years of age and living at 28, Commercial Street, Oakworth with his parents, three brothers and one sister, plus one great aunt. His father was running a shop at 28 Commercial Street, Oakworth. [Opposite the Snooty Fox pub]
His mother Sarah died aged 41 years in 1910 and this was registered in Keighley in the second quarter of the year.
He was 15 years old in the 1911 census and was living at 142 & 144 Commercial Street, Oakworth with his father – now a widower, great aunt, two brothers and two sisters. In recent years, this shop was Oakworth Convenience Store. Frederick’s occupation: Draper and Hatter. Cecil was working as a millhand at a worsted mill, probably in Oakworth.
War service:
Shortly after war broke out in 1914, Cecil enlisted at Keighley, probably in October.
He was killed in action on 20th July 1918. Buried in grave 9, row E, plot II, Marfaux British cemetery, France.
2/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment war diary for July 1918:
14th. The Battalion received orders to move South, and entrained at MONDICOURT at 9 pm.
16th. The Battalion detrained at MAILLY and proceeded by bus to CHALONS, and from there by route march to RECY.
17th. The Battalion move by route march to CHERVILLE.
18th. The Battalion moved by route march to GERMAINE and bivouaced in the forest at RHEIMS.
20th. The Battalion went into action in the vicinity of MARFAUX, and the wagon lines were moved into the forest de RHEIMS near COURTAGNON.
Overview of operations:
The 2/4th Battalion took part in a coordinated attack on German lines to take the village of MARFAUX.
During this attack about 50% of the men became casualties (killed or wounded) but the attack pressed home towards their objective. They were met with much machine gun fire and bombardment by enemy artillery. Cecil was killed during this attack.
Keighley News August 31, 1918:
Official news has been received concerning Private Cecil Wallace Smith, son of Mr Fred Smith, draper, Oakworth. From the information received it appears Private Smith was “killed in action on July 20, 1918.” Mr Smith has also a son (Oswald) missing, and much sympathy is felt for him in the neighbourhood.
Post war:
Cecil was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his war service and these would have gone to his father Fred Smith who was his next of kin.
Fred received a total dependant’s pension of 21 shillings and 19 pence per week for both of his sons, beginning on 3rd December 1918.
Remembrance:
Cecil was buried in grave 9, row E, plot II of Marfaux British cemetery which is in the Marne Region of France.
Locally, he is remembered on the Oakworth war memorial in Holden Park, Oakworth and he is also named on the Oakworth Great War Centenary roll of honour, which is on display at Oakworth Community Hall in the village.
His brother, Private Oswald Seymour Smith was also killed in action. He was reported missing since April 10 and eventually considered to have been killed on that date.
