Name
Arthur Smith
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/07/1918
20 years
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
44958
Manchester Regiment
1st/7th Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BERTRANCOURT MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot 2. Row E. Grave 12.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, All Saints Church Memorial, Radwell, Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, St Luke's Church Memorial, Bishops Hatfield, Not on the Baldock memorials,
Pre War
Arthur Smith was born in Radwell, nr Baldock, Hertfordshire in 1898, the son of Charles and Catherine Smith (nee Oakley). He was one of nine children.
On the 1901 Census Arthur (aged 2) was living with his grandparents Richard and Elizabeth Oakley and aunt Sarah Ann Oakley at Woodside Lodge, Hatfield. Richard Oakley, aged 66, was working as a general farm labourer. Meanwhile, his parents and siblings Gertrude, Hilda, John, Charles, Annie and his twin Frank, where living at Radwell, Nr Norton, Herts.
In 1911 Arthur was a scholar and still living with his grandparents and aunt Sarah at Woodside Lodge, Hatfield Park. His grandfather was then a lodge keeper, estate worker. There is also a Walter and Mary Smith (married 6 years) who may be related, living at 11, Primrose Cottages.
His grandparents died in 1913 and 1914 and he continued to be cared for by his aunt, who married William Howard in the summer of 1914 in St Albans, Herts. His parents later lived at Radwell House Cottages, nr Baldock.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted in Watford, Herts in January 1916 and was initially posted to the 2nd/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, later transferring to the 1st/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment with the service number 44958.
According to the National Roll of the Great War after "Volunteering in January 1916 he was shortly afterwards despatched to the Western Front. Whilst overseas he took part in several important engagements and was wounded. Rejoining his unit on recovery he was killed in action on 5th July 1918". N.B. Arthur would have undertaken military training for at least six months before being sent to the Front. Also he was not killed in action, but was wounded and died of his wounds, aged 20. He is buried in Bertrancourt Military Cemetery, France.
The Herts Advertiser dated 27/7/1918, reported: “Pte A Smith - News has reached Radwell, near Baldock that Pte A Smith, Manchester Regt., son of Mr and Mrs G Smith, Radwell, died in hospital in France on July 5th, from severe shell wounds in the head sustained in the front line trench. Before enlisting two years ago, Pte Smith was employed by Messrs Tingey of Hatfield. His chaplain, forwarding sympathies of the officers and men of the Battalion states that Pte Smith “was very much liked by all who knew him. We are burying him in our little cemetery behind the lines. Mr and Mrs Smith have four more sons in the Army."
Awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Additional Information
His aunt, Mrs Sarah Ann Howard, as sole legatee, received a war gratuity of £6 and pay owing of £8 6s 5d. She was also granted a dependant's pension of 5 shillings a week. Her address was given as 11 St Peter's Cottages, Newtown, Hatfield.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Howard (Aunt) of 11, St Peters Cottages, Hatfield received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Brenda Palmer
Graham Clark – World War One – The Fallen of London Colney, Grace Clark, Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
