Name
Cyril Valentine Smethurst
1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/03/1917
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7288
Honourable Artillery Company
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
H.A.C. CEMETERY, ECOUST-ST. MEIN
I. A. 19.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE DIED TRUE TO HIS FRIENDS AND BELOVED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Tring memorials, Memorial, Coulsdon & Purley, Woodcote, London, Gardens & Cenotaph, Coulsdon, London, Memorial, St Anrews Church, Coulsdon, London, Roll of Honour, Whitgift School, Croydon London
Pre War
Wartime Service
Cyril attested on 24 Mar 1916 as a Territorial with the Honourable Artillery Company as Private 7288 being trained in 3/1st Battalion. He went to France leaving Southampton on 24 Dec 1916 arriving at Le Havre & 7 Infantry Base Depot on 25 Dec 1916. He was posted to 2/1 H A C and joined this Unit in the field on 26 Jan 1917.His unit as part of 22 Brigade 7th Division took part in Operations on the Ancre (11 Jan-13 Mar 1917) minor actions pressuring the Germans and Pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line (14 Mar– 5 Apr 1917) , Cyril was killed in action at Ecoust on 31 Mar 1917 during this advance by the British forces.
It should be noted the Honourable Artillery Company, a Territorial Force formation provided 2 Infantry Battalions in addition to 4 Artillery Batteries.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 10s and arrears of £2 10s was paid to his widow.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
