224408 Pte. William James Smith British Army 1st Btn. Essex Regiment from:168 Mitcham Road, Croydon My great grandfather, William Smith was in the 1st Btn. Essex Regiment and was one of the first to arrive at Gallipoli on the 25th April 1915. Whilst he was away his wife gave birth to his child. He insisted that on her birth certificate she had one of her Christian names as Anzac. I do not know the reason for this but it must be due to events that happened to him while he was there. He was discharged on the 2nd July 1816.
Stories about him state that he was a very strict man with his children, but he did have ten children so probably had to keep order. My mother tells me that when she knew him as a small girl that she used to sit on his knee and that he was very kind to her. She remembers his long handlebar moustache.
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