Name
Percy Smith
10 May 1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/04/1916
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
G/3500
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BASRA MEMORIAL
Panel 29.
Iraq
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
The Church of St Mary the Virgin Memorial, Albury,
There is no memorial at Albury End
Pre War
Percy was born on 10 May 1882 in Mortlake, Surrey to Walter John West Smith, a stone mason & builder and Mary Ann (nee Bayliss).
By the 1891 Census the Family were living at Randolph Road, West Ham and Percy was the youngest of 4 brothers and 2 elder sisters. On the 1901 Census Percy’s occupation was a stonemason. In 1911 Percy’s Father and Mother were publicans at the Fox, Albury End, Hadham, Herts.
Wartime Service
Percy may have enlisted in Royal West Kent Regiment shortly after the outbreak of war as Private 9/3500 which indicates a 9th Service Battalion number. This Battalion was formed in Oct 1914 but was soon converted to a reserve formation and Percy was transferred to 2nd Battalion who were transferred to Mesopotamia arriving in Basra on 6 Feb 1915.
At some time Percy was promoted to Lance Corporal. Two Companies of 2nd West Kents were transferred to 6th Poona Division but were besieged at Kut-Al-Amara. During the siege Percy was killed in action on 17 April 1916 shortly before the surrender of the Garrison on 29 Apr 1916. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.
Additional Information
After his death he was recorded as the son of Walter John Bert (West) and Mary Ann Smith, of Albury End, Hadham, Herts. Percy's eldest sister Eleanor married William John Cogan also named on Albury End memorial. War Gratuity of £7 and arrears of £8 0s 7d paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
