Name
Harry Smith
6 June 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/01/1917
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
2900
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st/1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VLAMERTINGHE MILITARY CEMETERY
V. E. 14.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Ashwell Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Ashwell, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Harry was born on 6 June 1898 in Ashwell, Herts, the second son of George and Lilla Smith (née Worboys) of Ashwell. He was one of ten children, but three had died by 1911. He was educated at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Back Street, Ashwell, Herts where his father was working as a malster's labourer. They remained at the same address in 1911, at which time, Harry, although still at school, worked as a part time grocer's errand boy. Prior to enlistment Harry was working as a milkman.
His parents later lived at Silver Street, Ashwell.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford on 7 September 1914, (aged 16) and joined the Hertfordshire Regiment. He gained promotions to the rank of Sergeant whilst training and was a musketry instructor before going to the Front, reverting to the rank of Private, which was the usual custom. However, he was soon promoted to Lance Corporal.
He was only in Belgium for about six weeks before he was killed in action on the Somme on 17 January 1917, although according to the letter his Captain wrote to Harry's parents he claimed that Harry was shot through the heart at 9pm on 16 January, killing him instantly. De Ruvigny mentions that Capt. Thomas Gibbons wrote: "He is a great loss, for he had proved himself a very brave and capable man, and he was very popular in his platoon."
Harry is buried in Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, nr. Ypres, Belgium.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £10 10s and pay owing of £3 10s 11d. Pension cards exist in respect of Harry and his brother Herbert, with his mother as dependant but give no indication of the amount of pension received.
Brother to Herbert Smith, who served with the Bedfordshire Regiment and was killed in action on 21 March 1918.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, Jonty Wild, www.ashwellmuseum.org.uk
