John William Smiles (1895-1917)
From Whickham, served in 1st/5th DLI, killed in action at Arras
John William Smiles, the son of William and Ann Smiles, was born in Swalwell, Whickham in the summer of 1895. His father died before he was born and his mother re-married. He had two half-brothers and a half-sister. He lived in Whickham all his life and worked in Dunston Garesfield Colliery before enlisting in the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on 23 April 1912.
Private Smiles was later transferred to the 1st/5th Battalion DLI and landed in France on 20 April 1915. He was killed in action at the Battle of Arras on 23 April 1917, exactly five years after joining the Regiment.
Civil Parish: Whickham
Birth date: 1895
Death date: 23-Apr-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 102 Park Terrace, Whickham, Gateshead (1901 census)
Hopper’s Court, Swalwell, Whickham (1911 census)
2 Hopper’s Place, Swalwell (British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920)
Employment: Colliery Labourer (1911 census)
Miner, Dunston Garesfield Colliery (British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920)
Family: Father: William Smiles
Mother: Ann Smiles (nee Laws) later married William Cross
Military service:
Enlisted in 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry at Blaydon on 23 April 1912.
Later transferred to 1st/5th Battalion
Regimental numbers 1317 & 295068
Private
Medal(s): 1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Arras Memorial, Bay 8
Durham Cathedral Book of Remembrance
Swalwell Cottage Hospital 1914-1918 Roll of Honour
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards
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John W Smiles was my Fathers half brother.I am an army veteran and I March every year on Remembrance Sunday wearing John W Smiles Medals and I place a British Legion Cross on the central in Bury town centre
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Billy Cross
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