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Cecil William Smith

Lance Corporal
World War One

Oswald Seymour and Cecil William Smith are my great, great uncles on my grandfathers side. As far as I am aware they were both 19 when they were killed in action in the great war. Family legend says it was the Somme, how true this, I am unsure. My mother has both the bronze plaques that were sent out on when they both went missing in action, there bodies I understand were never found. The small plaques were known as 'death pennies' in our family.
They currently sit on my mothers hearth and are a familiar site for as long as I can remember. I was always fascinated and intrigued to hear my grandfather speak of them. They were so young. They had a brother also who was my great granddad. When he heard of their deaths, family legend has it that he cut his leg open with a pen knife and placed an old penny inside to poison his wound to avoid the draft. I have to say who could blame him. Once again, I can't confirm this, just family legend. I remember my great grandfather well, Oswald and Cecil's brother. He died in 1975 or thereabouts. My grandfather Cyril Smith was born at 66 Colne Road in 1914, and died aged 77 at Greyscar Court which is little over 500 yards from his birthplace. I myself was brought up in Oakworth and lived there for most of my life.

Regards, Shane Crossley.

We would appreciate any information available for this memorial page.
Please contact me, Andy Wade with any information.