Name
Albert Thomas Smith
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/09/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
DM2/138040
Army Service Corps
C Siege Park
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BRONFAY FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, BRAY-SUR-SOMME
II. G. 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, Taunton War Memorial, Somerset
Pre War
Albert Thomas Smith was born in 1896 in Stafford, Staffordshire, the son of Joseph and Sarah Smith.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 55 Chapel Street where his father was working as a Foreman Shoemaker.
On the attestation form in February 1914, he was aged 17 yrs 7 months and working as a labourer for Messrs Davis & Bailey, Engineers. When that was not approved, he tried again in December 1915 and gave his age as 20. His mother Mrs S Smith of 55 Chapel Street, Hemel Hempstead was given as next of kin and his occupation as Blacksmith.
Albert married Emma Hancock at St Mary's Church, Taunton on 29 April 1916 and they had a daughter Muriel Maud born on 13 April 1918 in Taunton, Somerset. His widow later lived at 7 High Street, Taunton.
Wartime Service
Albert originally attested on 12 February 1914 to serve with the Royal Field Artillery. and he was due to be posted as a driver but his application was not approved.
The following year he attested in Osterley Park, Whitehall, London on 11 December 1915 and was posted to the reserve on 30 January 1916. He enlisted for General Service in the Army Service Corps, with a view to being trained as a Motor Transport Driver. He passed the motor learners test on 30 January 1916 and was eventually posted to France on 5 June 1916, leaving from Southampton and arriving at Rouen the following day.
He was admitted to hospital on 13 October 1916 for a week (no reason given), and on 13 December 1916 he lost 14 days pay for gross negligence in causing damage to a radiator.
He was serving with the Army Service Corps, C Siege Park, and attached to III Corps Heavy Artillery when he was wounded by an enemy bomb and died at the 37th Casualty Clearing Station in France, from wounds (burns) received in action on 17 September 1918. He is buried at Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, Bray-Sur-Somme. France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £13 and pay owing of £13 14s 1d. She also received a pension of £1 5s 0d a week for herself and her daughter Muriel.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, hemelatwar.org.,
