Name
Reginald Smith
5 Oct 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/06/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/19389
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND (TRANSPORT FARM)
Special Memorial C.33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford, St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields, Leavesden Asylum/Hospital War Memorial, Leavesden
Pre War
Reginald was born on 5 October 1896 in Watford, and baptised 4 November 1896 at St Mary’s, Watford. He was the second son of Edward Smith, a housepainter, and Lizzie (nee Simmonds).
His parents married 9 September 1893 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts. Lizzie possibly died 1934 in the St Alban’s, Herts, district aged 67, and was buried April in Hatfield Road Cemetery, St Alban’s. Edward died 1945 in Watford aged 79, and was buried 6 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford..
On the 1901 Census, aged 4 he lived at 27, Liverpool Road, Watford, with his parents and elder brother, Leonard John (born 1895) and younger brother Robert Joseph (born 1899). Reginald attended Victoria Junior School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 11 January 1904 to 7 October 1910. On the 1911 Census, He was working as a clerk at confectionery works aged 15, still living at Liverpool Road, Watford, with his parents, brothers and his younger sisters Edith Mabel ( born 1902 )and Hilda (born 1905).
Wartime Service
Reginald was deemed to have enlisted on 2 Mar 1916 in Watford, and after his Medical Examination on 25 Sep 1916 was called up for service on 30 Nov 1916: his stated occupation was a plumber and fitter engaged at Leavesden Ayslum and aged 20.
He was posted to Army Service Corps as Private M/274180 on 9 Dec 1916. On 9 Jan 1917 he was posted to 30 Training Reserve Battalion at Dover Harbour. Reginald was then posted to 32 Training Reserve Battalion on 18 Apr 1917 and went to France 9 May 1917 to Infantry Base Depot to be posted on 25 May 1917 to the 8th Battalion, Queens Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment as Private G/19389. Reginald would have arrived in the Ypres sector to have taken part in the Battle of Messines (7 – 14 Jun 1917). He was wounded during this action and died from his wounds on 28 Jun 1917.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records him on the Special Memorial at Railway Dugouts Cemetery Ypres. This cemetery was heavily shelled in later stages of the Great War and the Special memorial records those soldiers graves which were disturbed but are believed to be buried there.
Additional Information
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Reginald in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 28 July 1917; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 29 June 1918 and 28 June 1919. War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £3 5s 6d was paid to his mother. Brother Robert served as Rifleman 64703 in 3 Rile Brigade and Kings Royal Rifle Corps in France from April 1918 and was demobilised 8 Nov 1919.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
