Name
Alfred Smith (4302)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/06/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4302
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn., Attached to the 254th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GORRE BRITISH AND INDIAN CEMETERY
I.B.21.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Thundridge War Memorial, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Ware memorials(*1), Not on the Westmill memorials, We are not aware of any memorials in Latchford
Pre War
Alfred born 1879, in Westmill, Buntingford, Hertfordshire. Son of John and Susan Smith. The 1881 Census shows him aged 2 years old, living with his widowed mother, 2 Brothers and 2 Sisters, in Westmill, Buntingford, Herts. The 1891 Census shows him aged 10 years old, a scholar and a pauper, living at the Buntingford Union Workhouse, Garden Road, Buntingford, Herts. The 1911 Census shows him aged 30 years, a boarder living at the Lamb & Flag in Colliers End, Standon, Herts. His occupation is given as a Labourer and was working for Mr F brand when he was reported as enlisting in Colliers End..
To help or possibly add to the confusion? The SDITGW database records this man as resident of Ware when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford on the 14th December 1914 into the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment.
He served at home from the 14th December 1914 to 9th July 1915 and embarked for France from Southampton on the 10th July 1915.
He was attached to the 254th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers. Alfred was killed in action on the 19th June 1916.
Additional Information
Confusingly there are two Alfred Smiths with a connection to Ware (soldier 4302 and soldier 36478) and it is not yet clear which is on the memorials, and which is not. Both appear to have been living in Ware when they enlisted, however 36478 is believed to have been also born in Ware and therefore has a stronger connection so we have assumed that he is then man on the memorial – we may need to correct this if more information is found.
*1 There are two possible men who could be the A Smith named on the Buntingford memorials, this man who is reported as born in Buntingford and the other is Arthur Smith G/18756 The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)who is recorded and living in Newtown, Buntingford when he enlisted.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Maurice Charge, Stuart Osborne
