London-born Bill Smith moved to Mildura after having lived briefly in Geelong in 1912. A driving force in the Mildura soccer community, he enlisted early in the war and was promoted to Sergeant in May 1915. The Mildura Cultivator of 18 September 1915 sadly reported the 7 August death of
Sergeant W. J. Smith, who will be remembered as a carpenter who resided with Messrs Will. Slater and Percy Robbins in Tenth-street. “Bill” Smith was a very popular fellow, both in Mildura and with those who served under him at the front. His parents resided at Walthamstow (a suburb of London) England. For two years he was secretary of the Soccer Association and through his keenness, both as player and official, did much to popularise the game in the district. He was a member of the Oddfellows’ Lodge in Mildura and “real white man”. He was 28 and the son of William Jackson Smith and Catherine Smith of 11, Albert Rd., Walthamstow, London, England. His mother passed away just weeks after he was killed.
Smith was buried in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery about 400 yards south east of Anzac Cove.