Name
Thomas Smith
22 July 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/12/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
45165
Royal Irish Rifles
14th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Panel 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Chipperfield Village Memorial, St Paul's Church Memorial, Chipperfield, Langleybury War Memorial, Hunton Bridge
Pre War
Thomas Smith was born on 22 July 1892, in Hunton Bridge, Langleybury, Hertfordshire, the son of William and Elizabeth Smith and the youngest of six children. He was baptised on 14 August 1892 at St Paul's Church, Langleybury, Herts.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Hunton Bridge, Langleybury, Herts, where his father was working as a cowman on a farm. They remained in Hunton Bridge in 1911 at which time 18 year old Thomas was working as a house painter.
Thomas married Nellie Beatrice George, the daughter of Henry and Annie George of Chipperfield, Herts, in late 1914. Their son Ronald Thomas was born on 1 February 1916. They were living at Chipperfield at the time of enlistment.
Wartime Service
Thomas enlisted at Bedford, Beds, and was posted to the 8th Battalion, London Regiment with the service number 8396. He was later transferred to the 14th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, with the service number 45165.
He was killed in action on 7 December 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £3 10s and pay owing of £5 13s 1d. She also received a pension of £1 0s 5d a week from 1 July 1918. Her address on pension records was given as Chapel Croft, later changed to Hillbrow, Meggs Lane, Chipperfield, Herts.
She remarried in 1925 to Sidney Hopkins in Hemel Hempstead.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Brenda Palmer
