Name
Robert A Smith
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33614
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GRAND-SERAUCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
IV. F. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial, Leavesden Asylum/Hospital War Memorial, Leavesden
Biography
Reginald was born in 1898 at Wokingham and was baptised on 27th November 1898 at St James, Barkham, Berkshire. His parents Jesse and Ellen had married at Barkham on 27th October 1894. The family was recorded in the 1901 and 1911 Census still living at Barkham. Ellen died in 1911 and Jesse remarried on 25th January 1913 (Fanny Skittles).
When he enlisted, his Medal Roll indicated that he joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment, but aged 19 as Private 20557. He was killed in action on 23rd March 1918 whilst serving with the 5th Battalion of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He was recorded “Killed in Action” in the Leavesden Parish Magazine in June 1918, where it was noted that he had worked as a Labourer at the Leavesden Asylum.
The German Army mounted a massive Spring Offensive on 21st March 1918, and under cover of thick fog and a tremendous artillery barrage of high explosive and gas shells made significant inroads into the British defences around the town of St Quentin in France. Many British units were caught in the onslaught and on that day the 5th Ox & Bucks took around 180 casualties trying to hold the line near the village of Flavy le Martel, to the south west of St Quentin. In the face of the German advance the 5th Ox & Bucks fell back and suffered further casualties in the next few days as they retreated. Robert was killed in action during this retreat on 23rd March when the Battalion was near the village of Guiscard.
He was not included on the original Abbots Langley or Leavesden War Memorials, however he was commemorated on the Leavesden Hospital War Memorial. Reginald was buried at the Grand Seraucourt British Cemetery to the south-west of St Quentin in France.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp
