Name
Herbert Smith
25 June 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
4/6477
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Mentioned in Despatches four times
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 28 and 29.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Ashwell Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Ashwell
Pre War
Herbert was born in Ashwell, Hertfordshire, on 25 June 1892, the son of George and Lilla Smith and one of ten children, but three had died by 1911. He was educated at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Back Street, Ashwell, where his father was working as a malster's labourer. Although not found on the 1911 Census it is likely that Herbert grew up on Silver Street, Ashwell, and was a farm labourer.
Wartime Service
He had enlisted on 7 February 1911, joining the Special Reserve of the Bedfordshire Regiment and was called up at the outbreak of war. He served with the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, arriving in France on 11 November 1914 and joining the Battalion in the field at Bailleul the following day. The remainder of the year was spent on a relatively quiet front around Fleurbaix.
Herbert was described as a "distinguished bomber" by the regiment and was mentioned in despatches four times by the end of 1915. His listing in De Ruvigny mentions that he was commended for his work in the field more than once and at some point he was promoted to Sergeant. An article by Martin Ford in the Mercury Midweek(*1) of 11 March 2015 describes how Herbert was involved in a heroic action where a small group of nine men took 49 Germans prisoner after attacking their trenches with grenades. Captain Charles Foss, who led the attack, described it as follows: "We felt very naked and above ground in the open field - at least I did. The dyke caused me some amusement - none of the bombers were inclined to get their feet wet and I thoroughly sympathised with them - wet puttees are so cold." The men then launched their attack with grenades. Captain Foss wrote: "The bombs, the first I had seen go off in anger, frightened me with their noise and the mess they made of the local Germans. They also stirred the Germans into activity. They got up and crowded around us with their hands up." The men then took 49 prisoners and secured the trench.
An article in the Hertfordshire Express published on 4 May 1918 reported Herbert had been killed in action on 21 March 1918 after having been in France for over three years on the Special Reserve. He had received a certificate from his General after having been commended for his excellent work. He was due to come home on a month's leave, usually given to an old soldier on completion of the term of service for which he enlisted, but was killed in action at Etrevillers, west of St Quentin on 21 March 1918.
Herbert has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £18 and pay owing of £22 11s 2d. Pension cards exist in respect of Herbert and his brother Harry with his mother as dependant but give no indication of the amount of pension received.
Brother to Harry Smith who served with the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment and was killed in action on 17 January 1917.
*1 A newspaper article on Cap C Foss, which includes information on Herbert, is included in our Archive under Biographies (HAW) - Additional Information.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, www.ashwellmuseum.org.uk
