204117 Private Dwight Smithson was a 25 year old saw filer originally from Stillwater, Minnesota when he attested into the 96th Battalion in December 1915 at Saskatoon. In the UK he was an Acting Corporal when he was initially transferred to the 92nd Battalion in October 1916 at East Sandling Camp and subsequently to the 5th Reserve Battalion at Bramshott. In order to facilitate being sent to the Front, he voluntarily reverted in rank to Private and was sent as a reinforcement to the 15th Battalion after Vimy on April 22, 1917. At the end of June the 15th Battalion was occupying 2100 yards of the front line in the Mericourt sector near Vimy and Private Smithson was serving in No. 4 Company. There was active patrolling to establish contact with the German line and on June 30th the battalion moved the front line 900 yards forward with little resistance from the enemy. There are no details in his service file but Private Smithson was killed in action during the advance and was buried in Nine Elms Cemetery.
NOK: Son of Robert Smithson, of Stillwater. Minnesota, U.S.A. Laura Smithson (M) 1025 Avenue B Nth, Saskatoon, SK
