Name
Charles Alfred Smith
1881.
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/02/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3/8456
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial, Kings Walden,
Not on the St Ippolyts memorials
Pre War
Charles Alfred Smith was born in St Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire in 1881 the son of Charles J. Smith (B 1857 in Hitchin, Herts) a Drover/ Cattle Dealer and Alice Smith (nee Winch) (B 1858 in Kneesworth, Cambs).
1891 Census records Charles aged 10, at school, living with his parents, sister Alice M. 5 and brother Henry 2, at Hopland Cottage, Mill Lane, St Ippolyts, Hitchin, Herts.
Charles married Alice Maud Simkins of Offley, Herts, the daughter of Joseph and Annie Simkins. They were married in the Parish Church of Kings Walden, Herts, on 18th July 1908.
1911 Census records Charles aged 30 married to Alice, they have one son Charles aged 2, his occupation is given as a House Painter and they are living in Ley Green, Kings Walden, Herts.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted in Hitchin, Herts. Posted to the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and given the Regimental Number 3/8456. He landed in France on 3rd December 1914.
Charles was Killed in Action on Saturday 27th February 1915, aged 34 years. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the missing. Panel 31 and 33.
Additional Information
His effects of £2-00s-8d, pay owing and £3, War Gratuity went to his widow Alice Maud.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild.
