113560 Pte William Henry Smith was born in Lachute, Quebec to Robert Smith and Jennett Cameron in February 1892.

Known as Henry, little is known of his early life. However, he married Elizabeth Davis of Papineau, Quebec and the couple raised ten children. In the first year of hostilities Henry, along with his sons Clifford, Eric, Robert and his son-in-law George Foster, enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces.

Initially assigned to the 8th CMR, Henry arrived in England on 19th October, 1915, for final training before being deployed to the front. However, Henry was initially not cleared for service at the front due to varicose veins. When Henry was finally cleared for service at the front he was transferred to the 4CMR, taken on strength on January 30, 1916.

During the German actions at Mount Sorrel, on 2nd June 1916, Henry was wounded and taken as a POW as the Canadian position initially fell into German hands. Henry would remain a POW through the rest of the war, spending time in camps in both Stendal and later Cologne, Germany, before being repatriated on 2nd January, 1919.

Once back in Canada, Henry settled outside Edmonton near Carrot Creek. Henry ultimately died of pneumonia 7th June, 1929. Henry is buried in the Soldier's section of the Edmonton Cemetery.

I would like to thank my late Grandfather, Robert Allen Smith, Henry's Great-Grandson, who researched and obtained the information used in this short biography.

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Biography credit and image with thanks to Robert Allen Smith and Bradley Smith.