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
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Buntingford Town Memorial (*1), Braughing Village Memorial, (*2) St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Braughing, St Mary’s Church Golden Book, Braughing, 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.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDITGW) database records that he was born in Little Hadham, Herts and was living in Buntingford when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
Enlisted at Bedford on 10 December 1915 and was originally in the Royal Fusiliers Regiment (46040) 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.
*2 The Braughing Roll of Honour records: "Private Arthur Smith, Royal West Kent Regiment, Reported missing in France. March 7th 1917. Aged 29". Clearly these details to not concur with this man's records, however no man with this name or any regiment, has been found that died on this date. Of those with this name who served in the Royal West Kent Regiment only this man has a probable connection - given his family location. It seems likely that the date has been confused, perhaps with the date when his death was notified to the family.
Acknowledgments
Kate Thompson
Jonty Wild, Carol Emery
