Name
Arthur George Henry Smith
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/04/1918
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
51617
Lincolnshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 35 to 37 and 162 to 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields
Pre War
Son of Job and Clara Ellen (nee MARTINDALE) SMITH; husband of Lily (nee BETTS) SMITH.
His parents married 26 May 1878 at St James’, Bushey, Herts. Job died 15 September 1926 in Watford aged 67, and was buried 18 September in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Clara died 1942 in Watford aged 83, and was buried 7 April, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Arthur was born 1880 in Watford, and baptised 3 November 1880 at St Mary’s, Watford. He married 1904 in the Watford district; they had seven children.
On the 1881 Census, aged 6 months he lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 10, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1901 Census, a roadman labourer aged 20, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and seven siblings. On the 1911 Census, a labourer aged 29, he still lived in Watford, with his wife and four children.
Officially recorded as born in Watford and enlisted there.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford, and was formerly Private 17623 Bedfordshire Regiment.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 30 July 1915, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Arthur’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There is an article about and a Death announcement for Arthur in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 18 May 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 19 April 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
