Name
John Abraham Smith
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/06/1918
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
84478
Machine Gun Corps
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY
XI. H. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Not on the Bishops Hatfield memorials
Pre War
Son of John Abraham and Eliza Elizabeth Smith later of Hatfield Herts. born in Bishops Hatfield circa 1884.
In the 1891 Census John was 7 and living with his parents and siblings: Charles S (13), Frederick J (8), Cyclia E Smith (5) and a nephew at Brewery Cottage’s, Hatfield. Father, John Abraham was working as a cooper at the brewery.
1901 Census: The family are living in Park St. Hatfield and another daughter Lydia E (15) was present. John (junior) was working as a grocer’s assistant. The in 1911, John was a boarder in the house of a Mr & Mrs Green, 12 Maryland Square, Stratford. He was working as a grocer’s assistant.
By the time he enlisted he was married.
Officially recorded as born in Bishops Hatfield and he enlisted in Stratford.
Wartime Service
John became Private 84478, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry).
The Herts Advertiser dated 22.6.1918, reported: “Hatfield Casualties - Pte J A Smith, youngest son of the late Mr J Smith, for many years cooper at the Hatfield Brewery, was wounded on June, xx and died in hospital two days later, at the age of XX. Pte Smith enlisted in January 1915 and for some time was in the Army Pay Corps. He was subsequently drafted to the Machine Gun Corps. And went to France in April of the previous (?) year. As a boy he was a member of the Parish Church choir and was apprenticed with Mr J Gregory, provisions dealer, and when he enlisted he was with the Army & Navy Stores, Strand (?). He leaves a widow but no children.”
Awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
