Colin Boyd has provided the following:
William was born on 16th February 1896. He was working as a miner living with his parents, George and Ellen at 28, Long Row, Ashington when he enlisted in the Royal Naval Division on 2nd November 1914.
He joined the 1st Platoon, "C" Company of the Collingwood Division on 4th March 1915 and transferred to the Anson Battalion on 8th June 1915.
William was posted as missing, later reported as killed in action in France on 13th November 1916.
William Smith is remembered in Ashington on A17.01 (A17.27) and A17.43. He may be named elsewhere but there are four men named "W.Smith" on the memorials. These ones state that he was with the R.N.V.R.
