Name
Herbert Richard Smith
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/04/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20024
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOULLENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION NO.1
VI. E. 27.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Anstey Village Memorial, St George's Church Memorial, Anstey
Pre War
Herbert Smith was born in Anstey, Herts in 1896, the son of George William and Fanny Smith (nee Martin) and one of seven children. He was baptised in St George's Church, Anstey.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at The Mill, Anstey where his father was working as an agricultural labourer. They remained at the Mill House, Anstey in 1911 at which time Herbert was working as a plough boy.
His parents later lived at Cheapside, Anstey (according to pension records).
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Royston, Herts and served in France with the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment from 30 August 1915. (N.B. the 8th Bn, Beds Regiment was disbanded in February 1918 and personnel transferred to the 6th (Service) Battalion).
At some point Herbert was awarded the Military Medal 'for bravery in the field', although the circumstances are not known. It was reported in the supplement of the Edinburgh Gazette on 23 March 1917.
On 1 April 1918 the Battalion were in front line trenches near Rossignol Wood and three companies were in the front line in support and although the war diary states it was 'fairly quiet' the artillery was active on the "D" Company front. The diary also states that on 2 April, four other ranks were killed and seven wounded, and on 3 April, six were killed and 10 wounded.
It is likely that Herbert was one of those wounded on 2 or 3 April. He was treated in the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital which was situated at Doullens at the time and died there on 3 April 1918, aged 22, from wounds received in action. He is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 1, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £14 10s and pay owing of £11 7s 4d. She also received a pension of 7 shillings a week from 4 October 1918.
Nephew to Kenneth Martin who is also named on the Anstey Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Brenda Palmer
Malcolm Lennox, www.ansteyvillage.co.uk/history
