Name
Arthur Smith
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/02/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/18756
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 45 and 47.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Buntingford Town Memorial (*1), Not on the Little Hadham memorials
Pre War
Arthur was born in Little Hadham, Hertfordshire, to George and Elizabeth. They were living in 1891 in The Ash, Little Hadham. By 1901 they had moved to Standon Road, Standon and Arthur is an errand boy.
He married Florence Ann Dickinson on 15 October 1913 in Harlow. In 1915 when he enlisted he was living in Newtown, Buntingford and was a grocer manager.
Wartime Service
Enlisted at Bedford on 10 December 1915 and was originally in the Royal Fusiliers Regiment and was posted to Etaples on the 5 October 1916.
On the 14 October 1916 he was transferred to the Royal West Kent Regiment. On 10 February 1917 he was listed as missing and on 14 April 1917 declared killed in action.
Additional Information
The Commonwealth War Graves site states his next of kin is Mrs F A Smith of Newtown, Buntingford. There are a number of letters from her to the Captain of the regiment asking if he was missing or dead. She then asks for his wedding ring, cigarette case and brown wallet to be returned to her.
*1 There are two possible men who could be the A Smith named on the Buntingford memorials. This man who is recorded and living in Newtown, Buntingford when he enlisted and the other is A Smith 4302 Hertfordshire Regiment, who is reported as born in Buntingford.
Acknowledgments
Kate Thompson
Jonty Wild, Carol Emery
