Name
Henry Smith
1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/09/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
G/31387
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills,
Memorial Plaque,
St Mary & St Joseph Roman Catholic Church Memorial, Boxmoor,
We are not aware of any memorial in Piccotts End
Pre War
Henry Smith was born on 10 January 1899 in Piccotts End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of Harry and Rebecca Smith and one of eight children, although two died in early childhood. He was baptised at St Mary's Church, Hemel Hempstead on 1 February 1899.
On the 1901 Census the family were living in Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts (next to the Oddfellows Arms) and his father was working as a Pedlar on his own account but his mother and elder sister were working as envelope makers at the local paper mill.
He started his education at Apsley Boys School and left in 1913 to work at John Dickinson & Co Ltd at Apsley Mills, where he continued to work until enlistment.
On the 1911 Census, he was living with his mother and older brother William at 41 Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead. who were both working at the paper mill. His father was not listed with them but his mother was head of the household and said to be married. She later lived in 4 Henry Street, Apsley End.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford in March 1917, soon after his 18th birthday, and initially joined the Royal Sussex Regiment (reg. no. G/18758) for basic training at Shoreham, Sussex.
He was sent to France in early 1918, being posted to the 6th Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment. He took part in the Battles of Bapaume and Albert in March, which resulted in heavy casualties. At some point he was promoted to Lance Corporal and later he fought in the Battles of Amiens and Albert in August.
Henry was killed in action on 19 September 1918, during the great push to end the war, at the Battle of Epehy when the Germans were fighting to hold their last major line of defence - the Hindenburg Line. They were situated near Malassise Farm, which was heavily defended by the enemy, and began their advance at 11.00 a.m and gained Old Copse. They were held up by barbed wire around the farm but overcame it, captured the farm and advanced a further 500 yards. Henry was one of 4 men killed and 19 wounded as they attempted to capture Poplar Trench which was strongly defended with machine guns.
Henry was 19 years old. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His mother Rebecca received a war gratuity of £8 10s and pay owing of £11 8s 2d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
ourdacorum.org.uk, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.parish.rcdow.org.uk/St-Mary-and-St-Joseph-WW1, www.hemelheroes.com.
