Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Sidney Smith, a framework knitter, born in the April quarter of 1844 in Whetstone, Leicestershire (son of John Caleb Smith, 1821-1888 and Eliza Kenney, 1817-1877) and his wife Alice Copson Smith (nee Wale, married on the 4th October 1869 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone), born in the October quarter of 1850 in Whetstone and baptised on the 17th November 1850 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone (daughter of Joseph Wale, 1826-1907 and Jane Copson, 1825-1910). Oswin William was born in in the October quarter of 1888 in Whetstone and baptised on the 20th March 1889 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, his siblings were, Maria, an assistant teacher, born on the 10th February 1870 and baptised on the 3rd April 1870 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, Rose Emma, born in the July quarter of 1873 and baptised on the 7th September 1873 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, Joseph Wale, a shoe maker, born on the 9th October 1875 and baptised on the 4th November 1875 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, Walter, a shoe maker, born in the October quarter of 1877 and baptised on the 13th January 1878 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, Sidney, a schoolboy, born on the 6th May 1880 and baptised on the 17th October 1880 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, Eliza, a schoolgirl, born on the 29th April 1884 and baptised on the 15th March 1885 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone and Arthur Amos, a schoolboy, born on the 11th May 1886 and baptised on the 13th June 1886 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, all his siblings were born in Whetstone, in April 1891 the family home was at Brook Side, Whetstone.
In March 1901 Oswin was residing in the family home at Pages Row, Whetstone, together with his father, a stocking framework knitter, his mother and siblings, Maria, an assistant school mistress, Rose, a mother’s help, Joseph, a shoe trade rivetter, Walter, a shoe trade rivetter, Sidney, a shoe trade rivetter, Eliza, a pupil teacher (school), Arthur, a shoe trade rivetter, Harold, born in the April quarter of 1891 and baptised on the 21st June 1891 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone and Geraldine, born on the 7th December 1894 and baptised on the 27th January 1895 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, the latter two siblings were both born in Whetstone.
Oswin’s father died aged 63 years, in the January1908 in Whetstone, and was interred on the 23rd January 1908 in Whetstone Cemetery.
In April 1911 Oswin was employed as a shoe trade clicker and was residing in the family home at Brook Side, Whetstone, together with his widowed mother and siblings, Maria an elementary school teacher, Rose, a hosiery trade griswold knitter, Joseph, a shoe trade rivetter, Sidney, a Great Central Railway plate layer, Arthur, a shoe trade rivetter, Harold, a shoe trade clicker and Geraldine, a dressmaker’s apprentice.
Oswin married Ethel Maud Ann Bodicoat on the 24th December 1911 in St. Augustine’s Church, Leicester, Ethel was born on the 6th November 1887 in Whetstone and baptised on the 5th August 1888 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone (daughter of Mary Jane Bodicoat, 1863). Oswin and Ethel had a daughter, Alice Christiana, born on the 24th November 1914 in Cosby, Leicestershire.
Oswin’s widow Ethel married John George Bailey on the 12th March 1921 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Cosby, they relocated to live in Quainton, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
FAMILY NOTES: Oswin had a younger sibling, Mary, born in the January quarter of 1872 in Whetstone and baptised on the 25th February 1872 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, and who died in May 1872 and was interred on the 26th May in Whetstone Cemetery.
Oswin enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 8th December 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 28037. He gave his age as 27 years 53 days. His marital status was given as married and his trade or calling as shoe clicker. He gave his present address as Whetstone Lane, Cosby, Near Leicester.
He gave his religion as Church of England.
His description on enlistment recorded his apparent age as 27 years 53 days, height 5-feet 6¼ inches and chest measurement of between 33½ and 35½ inches. The following distinctive marks were noted, nil.
He gave his next of kin as his wife, Ethel Maud Ann Smith, Whetstone Lane, Cosby, Near Leicester.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Mobilised. 14/4/16.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 8/12/15 – 27/8/16. 262 days.
France. 28/8/16 – 5/7/17. 312 days.
Total Service. 1 year 209 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 5 Jul-17 - The Battalion were in the front-line trenches, usual trench routine. Lieutenant Colonel R. N. GILLESPIE D.S.O. -?- to War Office to report. Handed over command of the Battalion to Major H. BARRINGTON BROWN, D.S.O. 2nd Lieutenant T. WRATISLAW rejoined the Battalion from hospital and took over the position of Acting Adjutant. Casualties, other ranks “B” Company 1 wounded, “C” Company 1 killed and 1 wounded.
On the 17th January 1918, Oswin’s widow Ethel Maud Ann, of Whetstone Lane, Cosby, Leicestershire was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of eighteen shillings and nine pence for herself and her daughter, commensurate on the 21st January 1918. Ethel later relocated to The Green, Quainton, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
[recognitum XI-I-MMXXIV]

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
The attached photograph was found on Ancestry website and sent in by A. Garford in 2017. Oswin is on the left, marked with an X.