William GREENSMITH

William GREENSMITH. Private 32282, Sherwood Foresters. Son of Albert Edward Greensmith of 3 Tutin Street, Ilkeston. Joined up 13 November 1915 aged 19 years and 4 months posted to 13th Sherwood Foresters. He was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps at Private 12 February 1916. He went absence without leave (AWOL) 30 March 1916 to 24 September 1916. Under military arrest awaiting District Court Martial (DCM) 10 October 1916 the trial commenced. He was tried by DCM for when on active service Charge Deserting His Majesty’s Service. Found not guilty of desertion by guilty of absence without leave. Sentence, Detention for 6 calendar months. 13 December 1916 he re-joined his regiment from detention and returned to duty the next day. The remainder of his army record did not survive the fire and water caused by the blitz over London, WW2. He died 5 July 1918 aged 20.

At rest in Park Cemetery, Ilkeston, Derbyshire.