Name
Edward Lewis Smith
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/10/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
19043
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WARLENCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
II. D. 36.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Harpenden memorials, All Saints Churchyard War Memorial, Upper Stondon, Beds.
Pre War
Edward Lewis was born in Harpenden in 1893 to William Smith, a market gardener, and Elizabeth (nee Peters).
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 2, Orchard Cottages, Shillington, Beds. Edward had a younger brother Jesse and two younger sisters Bertha and Emily. On the 1911 census the family were living at Lower Stondon, Beds. William was listed as a nurseryman (under glass).
Wartime Service
Edward enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 19043 in the 2nd Battalion. He was promoted to Serjeant.
He went to France on 2 Oct 1915. In 1916 the 2nd Battalion were at Bazentin-le-Grand in the front line trenches and and took part in an attack during the Battle of Le Transloy on 12 Oct 1916 at 14.05 hrs.. During this partially successful attack Edward and 241 others ranks were killed.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
