Rifleman William D. Smith was born in Ireland in 1828 and was Episcopalian. He was married with no children and a labourer. He was called out to meet the Fenian invasion as a member of No. 2 Company, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada when he was killed on 2 June 1866 while in or leaving the hollow square that had been ordered in error.

He is buried in St. James Cemetery, Toronto.