Name
Edward Henry Smith
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/14275
Royal Sussex Regiment
13th
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 20
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Standon War Memorial, St Mary’s Church Memorial, Standon, We are not aware of any Old Hall Green memorial
Pre War
Edward Smith had been a difficult man to locate with such a common surname, but a newspaper cutting was found, actually about the death of Edward’s father, Henry Smith. The article mentioned the fact that Henry had lost a son and that he had been in the Royal Sussex Regiment. This vital piece of information led us to the right man.
In 1881 the Smith family, father Henry, mother Esther (nee Illot, born Great Munden) lived at Hughes Green (near Hole Farm), then by 1891 they were living at Old Hall Green and father, Henry was a domestic servant at St. Edmund’s College, with four children at home, Mary 11, Edward 10, John 9 and George 3.
A photograph above showing the Smith family was sent to St Edmund’s College by a relative. From the ages given on the 1891 census, Edward is probably the boy on pictured with this biography.
By 1901 the picture had changed somewhat with Mary living in as a cook/domestic at an address in Hampstead, London and sons Edward and John living as boarders in Stratford, occupations shown as colour mixers.
There was so much industry in that area at the time, one of which was paint manufacture, so it is fairly safe to assume that they worked for that type of company. We do not know the reason for their return to Old Hall but by 1911, Henry is shown as a retired indoor servant and Edward and John were both working at the College, Edward himself being the odd job man and John as a general labourer. The cutting itself may be of interest. Taken from the Herts & Essex Observer, 12th October 1918, it says:
"Old Hall Green - The death of Mr Henry Smith occurred on Saturday at the ripe old age of 82. He was formerly employed in St. Edmund’s College for nearly 50 years. Edmundians all knew him and had for him the greatest regard and friendship. There was a requiem mass on Tuesday for the deceased, at the Parish Church, which was attended by the Rev. E. Myres (vice president) and the staff of the college, as well as by the immediate relatives and friends. The interment afterwards took place in the churchyard. The deceased leaves a widow, two sons and a daughter. He lost his eldest son, Pte. Edward Smith, Royal Sussex Regiment, in the present War. For many years the late Mr Smith was almost totally blind."
Son of Henry and Esther (nee Illot, born Great Munden).
Recorded as born in Old Hall Green and enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
As far as Edward’s military career is concerned, we know that he enlisted at Hertford but as his service record has not survived, we do not know when he went to the front.
The Royal Sussex Regiment, 13th Battalion were part of Gough’s 5th Army, specifically part of the 116th Brigade, 39th Division. The offensive on 31st July 1917 was the start of the 3rd Battle of Ypres. The regiment performed well and were credited with taking the village of St Julien (now St Juliaan) but at huge cost due to a combination of heavy shelling and poor weather, the injured men were lost in the mud and later could either not be found or identified. Other men had used deserted German bunkers which took direct hits, the men inside being blown to pieces.
Edward died on the same day as Henry Beaumont Clark, whose name also appears on this Memorial. Clark was in the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment, which also lost a large number of men in this same action. A Memorial will be erected on the centenary of the battle, in St Julien, to honour the men of the Hertfordshire Regiment who fell there - 31st July 1917. Both men are commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
Jonty Wild, Di & Roger Vanderson
