Name
Hubert D Smith
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/09/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman (Signaller)
44704
Royal Irish Rifles
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NIEUWKERKE (NEUVE-EGLISE) CHURCHYARD
P. 1.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no family Headstone inscription.
UK & Other Memorials
St Thomas' Mission Hall, Green Tye, St Thomas' Church Memorial, Perry Green, Much Hadham Village Memorial, St Andrew’s Church Memorial, Much Hadham, Stone Bench Plaque, Much Hadham, Congregational Church Memorial, Hadham Cross
Pre War
Hubert D. Smith was born in 1895 in Greenwich, London/Kent, son of Thomas Smith a Dairyman/Milkman and Martha Ann (nee Hills) Smith. The youngest of three children.
1901 Census records Hubert aged 6, living with his parents, brother Leonard (10) and sister Ida (8) at 10, King George Street, Greenwich.
It is believed Hubert enlisted in the Royal Navy in April 1910, aged 15, (he gave his date of birth as 9 April 1892), and given the service number J. 5. Reaching the rank of Telegraphist, before being discharged from the Royal Navy in May 1914.
1911 Census records Hubert aged 18, single, and a Telegraphist in the Royal Navy, serving aboard HMS “Edgar” the location of the ship was China & East Indies.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Woolwich in July 1916. Formerly 7001, with the 19th Battalion, London Regiment. He went to the front in January 1917. He was transferred to the 12th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, with the service number 13/44704, becoming a signaller. He was killed instantaneously by a machine gun bullet on 3 September 1918.
12th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles War Diary Extract:
(Objective: Western foot hill of Hill 63) 2nd September 1918: At 9.30 the regiment went forward. Individual assaults were made upon German machine gun positions. Helped by Lewis guns, the positions were rushed with the bayonet and three were taken.
Additional Information
His effects of £11-11s-6d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £9, went to his father Thomas. His Royal Navy service record (1910 - 1914) is available at the National Archives, Kew, London.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox, “Lest We Forget – Much Hadham 1914-18” by Richard Maddams (Much Hadham Forge Museum)
