Walter Smith

The census records the family as:

James Smith - age 45 - Stockman on Farm - born Felstead.
Esther Smith - age 43 - born Felstead.
Walter Smith - age 20 - Auxillary Postman - born Chignal Smealy
Elsie Smith - age 10 - born Felstead.
Winifred Smith - age 7 - born Felstead.
Ida Smith - age 5 - born Felstead.
Eva Smith - age 4 - born Felstead.
Ruth Smith - age 2 - born Felstead.

Whilst it is difficult to be sure of a match the Essex Regiment Museum records a Walter Smith, born in Chelmsford serving as Private soldier 9487 with the Essex Regiment, who later transferred to the 29th Division, Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps as Private Soldier 2529. His Commonwealth War Graves record gives no next of kin or age.

Walter died on 16th January 1916 during the evacuation of Gallipoli.

In fact he died at sea (cause not stated but possibly from disease as it was normal to record if a soldier died of wounds. Reports of the time show soldiers were drinking bad water at Gallipoli which caused lots of disease.)

He is remembered on the Helles Memorial on the Gallipoli peninsular.

We can not be sure that this is in fact the Walter Smith remembered on the memorial as George and Jane Smith, of The Mount, Bannister Green lost three sons during the war including a son called Walter.