STOKE ST MARY AND DISTRICT HISTORY GROUP
WALTER SMITH
Born Thurlbear 1897
Parents:
Harry Smith, born Culmstock
Laura E
1911 – Father Coachman, living at Rectory Cottage
Walter working on farm
1/5th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry
Private
241588
Entry in SLI Roll of Honour
Smith, Walter
b. Thurlbear, Somerset
E. Taunton (Thurlbear)
241588
Pte. KiA Egypt 22 Nov 1917
Died: 22 Nov 1917 – killed in action
Buried: Jerusalem Memorial
The 5th Battalion was one of two Territorial battalions of The Somerset Light Infantry at the outbreak of war in August 1914 they were based in Taunton with South-
They were sent to India to replace regular army units who were returning home to join the BEF in France. They sailed from Southampton on the 9th of October 1914, landing at Bombay on the 9th of November 1914.
In May 1917 it was sent to Palestine to join the newly formed 75th Division with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force and went into action for the first time on the 27th of October 1917 for the Third Battle of Gaza, in Palestine.
Description of the disastrous action in which Private Smith was killed. Taken from officers memoirs written after the war.
World War I
