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300310 Pte. William Smurthwaite British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry from:Langley Park (d.1st Jul 1916) William Smurthwaite was born on the 9th of June 1894. His parents were the Innkeepers of the Langley Park Hotel in Langley Park, he had one brother and four sisters. William attended Langley Park Council School and Durham Johnston School from 1907. By 1911 his mother had remarried, but was still running the Inn. William worked as a colliery engineman’s apprentice at Bearpark Colliery and was a mining student when he joined up on 17th of September 1914 with the 18th Battalion DLI. He is recorded as 5’9” tall, weighed 133 lbs and had good vision. He trained at Cocken Hall near Durham. William was disciplined whilst at Ripon for overstaying leave. He served in Egypt from Dec 1915 to Mar 1916, then was sent to France. He lost his life, aged 22 on the first day of the First Battle of the Somme and is buried on Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps. His name is recorded in the Book of Remembrance, St Edmund, Bear Park, Durham. His brother Tom was also killed in WW1. Please type your message:      We recommend you copy the text about this item and keep a copy on your own computer before pressing submit. Your Name:             Email Address:       @ **Please put first part of your email, (before the @ sign) in the first box, and the second part in the second box. Do not include @, it is automatic. Do not enter your full email in each box or add an @ sign or random spaces.**