Name
Benjamin Henry Smith
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/04/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
104367
Machin Gun Corps (Infantry)
21st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MENDINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY
X. B. 20.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Cheshunt Memorials, Not on the Waltham Cross Memorials
Pre War
Benjamin Henry Smith was born in late 1897, in Cheshunt/Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, (depending on the document, the birth was registered in Edmonton, son of David Smith a Machinist at the Royal Small Army Factory, Enfield Lock, Middx, and Mary Ann Smith (nee Beeston). The youngest of two children.
He was Baptised on 9th March 1898 in the Parish of Waltham Cross, Herts.
1901 Census records Benjamin aged 3, living with his parents, brother Oliver (5) at 17 Burleigh Road, Cheshunt, Herts. The family had two Boarders living with them.
1911 Census Benjamin (13) is at school, living with his parents and brother Oliver (15) at 4 Malvern Road, Enfield Lock, Middx.
Wartime Service
Benjamin enlisted at Tottenham, posted to the Norfolk Regiment with the service number 32246, later transferred to the Machin Gun Corps with the service number 194367. On completion of his training, he was sent to the Western Front.
He died on 20th April 1918, at the 64th Casualty Clearing Station, Mendinghem, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, of wounds received in action, aged 20. He is Buried in Mendinghem Military Cemetery. Grave Ref: X. B. 20.
Additional Information
His mother Mary Smith received a Dependents Pension of 8/- a week from 15th July 1918. His effects of £17-11s-04d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £4, went to his father David Smith.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
