Name
Frank Smith
Possibly 1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
3/5198
Hampshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 7 C and 7 B.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Baldock memorials, Little Gransden War Memorial, Cambridgeshire
Pre War
Frank Smith was born in Baldock. It has not been possible to positively identify Frank, but it is likely he was born in 1883, the son of Frederick and Martha Smith, who were living in Baldock in 1891 and had moved to Portswood, Christchurch, Hampshire in 1901.
It is likely that at some point he emigrated to Canada as when he died he was said to have been living there, (see additional information below), and later returned to England.
Wartime Service
Frank enlisted in Southampton, Hampshire, and joined the Hampshire Regiment, serving in France from 3 December 1914.
He was killed in action but has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His executor Charles J White received a war gratuity of £7 10s and pay owing of £7 4s 2d. There is a note on the entry stating "Officer Paying Imperial Pensions, Ottawa, Canada." He was also granted probate of Frank's estate with effects of £137 10s in 1925. The entry in the probate calendar index states "Frank Smith of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, died 1 July 1916 in France. Probate Vancouver to Charles John White. Effects £137 10s in England. Sealed London 27 June."
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.roll-of-honour.com
