Name
John Odell Smith
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/02/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1777
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
'4' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CUINCHY COMMUNAL CEMETERY
II. D. 14.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, 4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin, Holy Saviour Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
In 1891, before John was born, his parents' and older brothers s father was recorded as Seth. With his wife and two children Henry and Thomas were living in London.
John was born in 1894 in Holloway, London and christened on 13 Apr 1896 in the Holy Savior Church, Hitchin. His parents were Joseph Seth Smith and Mary Ann Smith and born in Hitchin and Arlesey, Bedfordshire respectively.
In 1901 the family were living at 44 Florence Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Joseph (33) and Mary (32), with Joseph and working as a decorator p[painter. Their children were: Henry Seth Smith (11), Thomas James (10), John Odell (7), Louisa A (5) and Selina E (1).
By 1911 the family were living at 118 Nightingale Rd, Hitchin,. Present were both parents, who the census recorded had been married for 22 years with 7 children, of whom 1 had died. All the children listed above were present except Louisa and Selina, also present were siblings: Selen Allen (11 – could this be the Selena E recorded above?), Dorothy Mary (8) and Priscilla Mary (6). Joseph, Henry and Thomas were all house painters in Joseph business, and John an a apprentice.
John enlisted in the Hertfordshire Territorial on 12 January 1912 for four years, when he was 18 years old and living at 118 Nightingale Road, Hitchin. He was 5’ 9” tall and employed by Mr S Smith Nightingale Road, Hitchin. He was allocated Regimental Number 1777.
Officially recorded as born, living and enlisting in Hitchin, however it seems the birth location was wrongly recorded.
Wartime Service
The Territorials were only required to serve in the UK, but along with many other, John volunteered for overseas service and embarked from Southampton on 5 November 1914.
He was killed in action serving in France. He was in No. 4 Company of the Regiment which was a Territorial Army unit. At the time of his death this was part of the 4th (Guards) Brigade in the 2nd Division. The Battalion came to be known unofficially as the ‘Herts Guards’.
This was at the start of the Hertfordshires’ first offensive battle when the 4th Guards Brigade attacked the Brickfields at Cuinchy. Casualties were not heavy and a congratulatory message was received from the Commander of the 2nd Division.
He was buried in Plot 2, Row D, Grave 14 in the Cuinchy Communal Cemetery in France.
Additional Information
After his death £3 12s 6d pay owing was authorised to go to his father 21 August 1915. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her on 1 July 1919.
His pension cards record M. A. Smith, his mother, as his next of kin, living at 118 Nightingale Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 4s 6d a week from 18 December 1916. The card lists another child, a living soldier, no 1673 Pte H S Smith 1st Herts Regt.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
