Name
Henry John Smith
11 December 1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/05/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Company Serjeant Major
6462
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 26.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Leverstock Green Village Memorial
Pre War
Henry John Smith was born on 11 December 1882 in 9 Rothwell Buildings, Market Street, St Pancras, the son of Sarah and John Smith and one of seven children, although three died in early childhood. His father, who had been born in Armagh, Ireland, was a police constable in the Metropolitan Police Force in London.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 21 Rothwell Buildings, in St Pancras, London. His father retired with a pension after 25 years service in 1897 and the family moved to Hemel Hempstead. Sadly his mother died soon after, and on the 1901 Census, they were living at 8 Adeyfield Terrace, Hemel Hempstead where his father was said to be living "on his own means" and his brother Sydney was working at the Paper Mill. Henry was not listed with them.
Henry had joined the army in about 1900 and served with the Oxfordshire Regiment under reg. no. 6462. He was posted to South Africa in 1902 and promoted to Corporal. He served during the Boer War and received the South Africa Medal with bars for service in Cape Colony and Orange Free State. At the end of the war the regiment returned to England and were stationed at Chatham from October 1902. In September 1903 they were sent to India and reorganisation of the army in 1908 saw the birth of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
He married Lilian Elizabeth Martin on 26 December 1905 in the military church at the British Army base of Meean Meer outside Lahore (now Pakistan). Lilian, the daughter of a Sergeant in the East Surrey Regiment, had been born in India. They had three daughters, Kathleen (1906) Lilian May (1908) and Molly (1910) but sadly Lilian died aged 2 months and on returning from India their son Jack Henry was born in Farnham, Surrey in 1912.
On the 1911 Census his father was landlord of The Masons Arms, Belconey, Leverstock Green and his sister Catherine was helping in the business. Meanwhile, Henry was a Colour Sergeant serving in India with the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
Henry was said to have been living in East Dulwich, Surrey on enlistment at the outbreak of the war. His widow later lived in Camberwell.
Wartime Service
After his initial Army service period came to an end, Henry signed on with the army reserve in order to receive a pension, and returned to England, but when war was declared in 1914, as a reservist, he was required to return to the army. On 13 August the 2nd Battalion embarked at Southampton on SS Lake Michigan and landed at Boulogne, France the following day.
They assisted in covering the Retreat from Mons on 23 August and continued as the rearguard. In September 1914 they crossed the Aisne river and suffered the first casualties at La Cour de Soupir whilst being under heavy enemy bombardment. Moving to Flanders, the Battalion took part in the Battle of Langemarck on 21 October (part of the First Battle of Ypres), followed by the Battle of Gheluvelt ten days later. They were moved to Bethune and remained in trenches until May 1915 when they were in a support role in the Battle of Aubers on 9 May.
Henry was killed in action on 16 May 1915 at Richebourg L'Avoue, in an attack during the Battle of Festubert. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £12 and pay owing of £11 13s 1d. She also received a pension of £1 2s 6d a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
google.com/site/leverstockgreenwarmemorial.org.uk
