Name
Arthur Smith
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/07/1918
20 years
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
44958
Manchester Regiment
1st/7th Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BERTRANCOURT MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot 2. Row E. Grave 12.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Headstone Inscription
UK & Other Memorials
St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, All Saints Church Memorial, Radwell, Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, St Luke's Church Memorial, Bishops Hatfield, Not on the Baldock memorials,
Pre War
Son of Mr and Mrs Smith, later of Radwell House Cottages, nr Baldock. Arthur was born in Radwell, Herts Baldock, Hertfordshire, in 1898.
In the 1901 Census: Arthur was 2 and was living with his grandparents Richard and Elizabeth Oakley and aunt at Woodside Lodge, Hatfield. Richard Oakley, aged 66, was working as a general farm labourer. Then 1911 Arthur was at school, still living with his grandparents and Aunt at Woodside Lodge, Hatfield Park. His grandfather was now a lodge keeper, estate worker. There is also a Walter and Mary Smith (married 6 years) who may be related, living at 11, Primrose Cottages.
Officially recorded as born in Baldock (Radwell’s nearest large town) and was living there when he enlisted in Watford.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisting in Watford, Herts. January 1916 and initially posted to the 2nd/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, then later transferred to the 1st/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment with the service number 44958.
According to the National Roll of the Great War after volunteering in January 19161916 he was shortly(*1) afterwards despatched to the Western Front. Whilst overseas he took part in several important engagements and was wounded. Re-joining his unit on recovery he was killed in action on July 5th 1918
Arthur was wounded in action and died of his wounds on Friday 5th July 1918.
The Herts Advertiser dated 27/7/1918, reported: “Pte A Smith - News has reached Radwell, near Baldock that Pte A Smith, Manchester Regt., son of Mr and Mrs G Smith, Radwell, died in hospital in France on July 5th, from severe shell wounds in the head sustained in the front line trench. Before enlisting two years ago, Pte Smith was employed by Messrs Tingey of Hatfield. His chaplain, forwarding sympathies of the officers and me of the Battalion states that Pte Smith “was very much liked by all who knew him. We are burying him in our little cemetery behind the lines. Mr and Mrs Smith have four more sons in the Army."
Awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal
*1 likely to have been at least six months.
Additional Information
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Howard (Aunt) of 11, St Peters Cottages, Hatfield received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Graham Clark – World War One – The Fallen of London Colney, Grace Clark, Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
