Name
Walter Smith
1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/03/1916
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
6507
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CERISY-GAILLY MILITARY CEMETERY
II. D. 13.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, British Schools Museum Memorial, Hitchin, Not on the Sandon Memorial
Pre War
Walter was born in 1883 in Sandon, Herts., and christened on 22 Nov 1885 in Flamstead, Herts. His parents were Archelaus William and Emma Smith (née Waller), they had married in St Mary’s Church, Hitchin 20 Oct 1866.
In 1891 the family were living at The Priory, Flamstead, Herts. where Archelaus was a police constable. Present were both parents: Archelaus (44 – born in Kings Walden) and Emma (43 – born Hitchin). Their children were: William (15), Annie (12), Flora (10), Walter (8), Lillie (5), Harry (2) and Percy at nine months.
By 1901 Archelaus had retired from the police and the family had moved to 4 Hope Cottages, Old Park Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents, and children Lillie, Harry and Percy. Walter was absent aa he had enlisted into the Bedfordshire Regiment; 2nd Battalion and was serving in the South African (Boer) War. His is reputed to have served for 8 years.
Archelaus died in 1909 but had attended the wedding of his daughter Lillie in January.
By 1911 Walter’s widowed mother was still living in 4 Hope Cottage, Old Park Rd, Hitchin, Herts. the child present was Percy now 20. Although widowed the census recorded she had been married for 43 years with 11 children, of whom 1 had died. Ten are named in his records after he died.
Walter had followed his father and had become a police officer. He was boarding at 5 Andover Street, Sheffield in the family home of widowed Lucy Andrew (48) with another police constable, Charles Goodall (24).
Officially Walter was recorded as born in Sandon, Herts., living in Hitchin when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
It is probable that Walter was still listed in the Army Reserve and was called or, with the permission of the police, volunteered, because he was early to go to France, landing on 08 November 1914.
He was again posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Bedfords this time with the Regimental Number 6507.
He was Mentioned in Despatches for conspicuous bravery at Hulloch in the Loos Sector from 25th September to 1st October 1915. He was killed in action in France by a shell during the night of the 14th March 1916 when it exploded near the building where he was sleeping and he was struck on the head.
At the time of his death, and until the 15th March 1916, the 2nd Battalion were alternately holding the line north of Maricourt and moving back to Maricourt and Suzanne or Etinghem.
He is buried in Plot 2, Row D, Grave 13 in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, Somme in France.
Additional Information
After his death £21 18s 9d pay owing was split and authorised on 2 June 1916, as follows: £2 3s 11d each to Emma (mother), Emma (sister in law), brothers Percy and Henry and George, then £2 3s 10d each to sisters Alice Males, Emma Packman, Annie Sharp, Flora Smith and Lillie Scott.. Later, a war gratuity of £12 was authorised to be paid to his mother on 20 September 1919.
His pension cards record x, his widow/father/mother, as his next of kin/dependant, living at x, Hitchin. She/He was awarded a pension of 6s 6d a week from 13 May 1919.
Emma 4 Hope Cottages, Old Park Road,
He had an older brother George who served in the Dublin Fusiliers in Salonika and a younger brother Percy who served in the Royal Garrison Artillery at Tring.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
