Name
Alfred Smith (36478)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/02/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
36478
Princess Charlotte of Wales’ (Royal Berkshire) Regiment
6th Bn
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 11 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Standon War Memorial,
St Mary’s Church Memorial, Standon,
Small stone cross in St Mary’s Church Memorial, Standon,
Puckeridge Memorial Plaque, Standon Village Hall, Standon,
Ware Town Memorial,
St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Ware,
Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford,
Pre War
Frederick and Elizabeth (nee Pateman) married in 1890 and Alfred was born 19th November 1890 in Ware and baptised in St Mary’s church on 8th February the following year, the same day as another fallen soldier on the Ware memorials, Walter Warman.
Alfred was the first child of Frederick & Elizabeth, but he had an older half sister, Alice Pateman, who had been born out of wedlock. Alice’s baptism record gives Hanging Wood as the place Elizabeth lived before marriage, and later the family lived in Stortford Road for a while, Frederick making his living as a labourer or sometimes a horse keeper. By 1893 they had moved to Standon Lodge Farm, probably to a ‘tied’ cottage.
Including Alice, Elizabeth Smith had seven children, five girls and two boys, losing one daughter at four years old in 1896. Alfred, like his siblings, attended the school in Standon in what is now Knight’s Court, leaving school in June 1904, a few months before his 14th birthday.
By 1901, Alice, 13, is living in Hadham Road, possibly in one of the almshouses, with her 81 year old grandmother, Charlotte Pateman. In 1911 when the census was taken, Alfred, aged 20 is still living with his parents and three younger siblings at Latchford, next to Arches Hall. At this point Alfred is described as a horse keeper and father Frederick as a groom/gardener. We know he enlisted at Hertford, date unknown.
Enlisted at Hertford.
Wartime Service
Formerly 5792, Hertfordshire Regiment, Alfred was a Private, No. 36478 in the 6th Battalion, the Royal Berkshire Regiment.
He was killed 17th February 1917, aged 26 years. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 11. D.
A newspaper article dated 22nd December 1917 mainly about another man on this Memorial (E.C. Martin) also mentions Alfred.
The item reads: "… On Sunday at the close of the morning service the Dead March in “Saul” was played while the congregation remained standing, as a tribute of respect to the memory of two gallant Standon soldiers, the deceased and private Alfred Smith of Latchford, who was previously announced as missing and is now reported dead. This brings the roll of honour of Standon’s heroic dead up to 20 …"
Alfred Smith and his village companion were killed in the actions of Miraumont (17th – 18th February). This was one of a series of offensive actions in the early months of 1917, as the Allies kept up the pressure on the Germans. Unfortunately the Germans had obtained some intelligence about the forthcoming attack and they heavily shelled the area where the attacking forces were likely to assemble. Several battalions including the 6th Royal Berks suffered heavy casualties at this point.
Ironically the Germans had decided a few days earlier to withdraw to new defensive positions (the Hindenburg Line) some miles to the east. At best this action did no more than accelerate this withdrawal.
Additional Information
*1 Confusingly there are two Alfred Smiths with a connection to Ware (soldier 4302 and soldier 36478) and it is not yet clear which is on the memorials, and which is not. Both appear to have been living in Ware when they enlisted, however 36478 is believed to have been also born in Ware and therefore has a stronger connection so we have assumed that he is then man on the memorial – we may need to correct this if more information is found.
After his death he was recorded as the son of Frederick and Elizabeth Smith, of Latchford Farm, Standon, Ware, Herts.
It took the authorities until December of 1917 to pay the Smith family what was ‘owed’ – a sum of £6-2-6d. After the war was over, a further sum, for War Gratuity was sent – a further £5-0-0.
The Smith family later had a small stone cross made with Alfred’s name inscribed, which now sits on the War Memorial table.
Alfred was in the same regiment and battalion as the previous man on the Memorial, John Rule, they both died on the same day in the same action.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
Malcolm Lennox, Di Vanderson, Jonty Wild
