Name
Samuel Charles Smith
14/01/1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/02/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
43221
Northamptonshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DERNANCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
VI. A. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE IS NOT LOST BUT GONE BEFORE
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, St Clemence Church Memorial Turnford, Not on the Sacombe Memorials, We are not aware of any Memorial in Sacombe Green
Pre War
Samuel Charles Smith was born in Sacombe Green, Hertfordshire, on 14th January 1895, son of Samuel Smith, an Agricultural worker and Ellen Eliza Smith (nee Mardell). The eldest of five children although one died in infancy.
He was Baptised on 10th March 1895, at St Catherine's Church, Sacombe, Herts, at the time the family lived in Sacombe Green, Herts.
1901 Census records Samuel Jr. aged 6, living with his parents, sisters Gladys (4) and Gertrude (1) in Sacombe Green, Herts.
1911 Census records Samuel Jr. as Charles (16), employed as a Farm Labourer living with his mother, sister Gladys (14), brothers Willie (9) and Robert (4), with his uncle William Mardell in Sacombe Green, Herts.
His father Samuel died in March 1914, aged 44, he was buried on 1st April 1914, in Sacombe, Herts.
Wartime Service
Samuel Jr. travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlisted, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 17136, later transferred to the Northamptonshire Regiment with the service number 43221.
He entered France, on 30th August 1915, seeing action on the Western Front, he was promoted Lance Corporal in the field. He died on 22nd February 1917, aged 23, at No 45. Casualty Clearing Station, of wounds received in action, he is buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Grave Ref; VI. A. 6.
His Company officer wrote: "He was one of my best n.c.o.s, and will be a great loss to company and all his friends will miss him greatly."
Additional Information
His effects of £4-00s-8d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £11, went to his mother Ellen Eliza Smith.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
