Born at Aston, Birmingham.
Originally enlisted into the 41st Foot and served a total of 1 year 92 days before being "discharged by purchase," with a payment of £20 and with a "good character," on the 28th of May 1845. (see below)
A certificate signed by the Lieut. and Adjutant of the 41st Foot shows:
"I certify that William Henry Smith served in the Forty First Regt. one year and eighty five days, that he was discharged on the 28th of May 1845 on a payment of £20 and that his character was Good. Mullinger, 15th of June 1845."
Enlisted into the 17th Lancers on the 12th of June 1846 by Corporal Edward Talbot (later killed at Balaclava), joining the Regiment at Dublin on the 2nd of July 1846.
Age: 18 years 6 months.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Brass-founder.
Features: Dark complexion. Grey eyes. Dk. brown hair.
"Deserted" from the 15th of July 1853 — 5th of January 1854. Tried by a Regtl Court-martial and imprisoned — but released in order to embark for the Crimea.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
The musters for July-September of 1858 show him as being "On Field Service" during the whole of this period.
Served in the field at Rajghur and Mungrowlee with Captain William Gordon.
He is named as "Henry" Smith on some rolls.
A Board to consider his discharge sat at Secunderabad, India, on the 10th of December 1861:
Leaving at his 'own request' and claimed the same after having completed over fourteen years service and being in the possession of two Good Conduct badges. By Authority of the Commander-in-Chief, India, vide Letter No, 1036, dated the 11th of November 1861.
On passage from India on the 15th of March 1862 and on the roll of the Depot from the 4th of July
Discharged from Maidstone on the 10th of July 1862.
To live in Charles Henry Street, Aston, Birmingham on discharge.
Served 15 years 219 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years. East Indies, 4 years.
His conduct has been "good", he is in possession of two Good Conduct badges and has once been tried by Court-martial.
Aged 34 years on discharge.
Became entitled to his "deferred" pension of 4d. per day from the 12th of December 1877.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Mutiny medal without clasp. (Documents confirm entitlement, but he does not appear on the roll.)
1881 Census
According to the 1881 Census Returns a man of this name was living at 52, Heneage Street, Aston, Warwickshire, a Glass Cutter, aged 52, born in Birmingham, with his wife, Ann, 53, born in Bromley, Staffordshire, and three unmarried daughters, aged from 21 to 16.