Name
Samuel Smith
1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/06/1918
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
220722
Princess Charlotte of Wales’ (Royal Berkshire) Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WARLENCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
XI. C. 17.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, British Schools Museum Memorial, Hitchin, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Yeomanry Memorial, St Albans Cathedral, We are not aware of any Charlton memorial
Pre War
Samuel was born in 1892 in Hitchin and christened/baptised on 24 May 1893 in Holy Savior, Church, Hitchin. His parents were James and Martha Smith (née Cannon) they married in 1876 in St Mary’s Church, Hitchin.
In 1891 the family were living at 6 Adam and Eve Alley, Hitchin – an address the family remain at in the following census. Present were both parents: James (45) and Martha (43), with James working as a labourer and Martha as a laundress. Their children were: Rhoda E (14), James (11), Emma (9), Mary Ann (6) and John (3). Oddly Samuel is missing.
Samuel’s father, James, died around 1898. So in 1901 the family were Martha, working as a char woman and children: Rhoda, Emma, Mary, John, Sam (Samuel – 11), James (4) and daughter Rhoda Worsley.
By 1911 only Martha, Mary, John and Samuel were present, Samuel now 20 was a bricklayer’s labourer.
He enlisted on 15 November 1915 and at that time he 23 years and 6 months old and was working as a leather dresser at Russell's Tanyard in Hitchin.
Samuel married (née). Edith Sharp (b 6/8/1897) on 10 June 1916. Later their only daughter, Edith Joan was born in 1918.
During his medical on 17 January 1917 he was described as 25, 5’ 7 ½” tall, 9 stone 10 lbs with a 34 ½ inch chest when fully expanded.
Officially recorded as born and living in Hitchin when he enlisted in Hertford.
The Hertford Mercury of 6th July 1918, reported that Samuel was "of Charlton".
Wartime Service
Samuel was given the Regimental Number 105985 and posted to the 3/1st Herts Yeomanry. He had dental treatment in November 1915, March 1916 and April 1916, was admitted to hospital with impetigo on 17 February 1917 where his stayed until 9 March. Then on 13 May 1917 was again admitted to hospital, this time with scabies, leaving on 9 June. He was then admitted with an abscess but the date are not legible.
He was awarded a goof conduct badge on 15 November 1917, embarked for France on 27 March 1918 and landed there the following day and was posted to the 1st Battalion of the Berkshire Regiment with the Number 220722 joining them on 6 April 1918 and was killed in action a little under 2 months later.
At the time of his death, the Battalion was in the 99th Brigade being part of the 2nd Division probably in the V Corps of the 3rd Army. He was killed in action in France along with three other men when the enemy were shelling their billets.
The Battalion War Diary records that the Battalion was at the village of La Herliere, which is about twelve miles north east of Doullens. During the morning the village was shelled by high velocity 5.9s. An Officer and two Other Ranks were killed and eight injured. The Battalion moved to billets in a nearby wood in the afternoon.
His commanding officer wrote to his widow: “Your husband was one of the very best men in the Company, respected and like by all who knew him. Always keen at his work, always cheery under any conditions, and always ready to volunteer for anything. He was, I consider, a splendid type of man.”
His chaplain also wrote, as did Mrs Rand of Wilton Lodge, The Avenue, Hitchin, who did so on behalf of her son serving in the same regiment: “Private Smith and three other men were killed by the same shell when the enemy was shelling the billets of the regiment.” – these were privates Cyril Montague Hodgkison and John Henry Prince and Captain Edward Dugdale D'oyley Astley – they were all buried together in adjacent graves.
He was buried in Plot 11, Row C, Grave 17 in the Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery in Saulty in France.
Additional Information
His person effects were sent to his widow on 19 September 1918, these included a wallet, letters. Photo wallet, notebook and cards.
After his death £7 1s 4d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow on 17 September 1919. Later, a war gratuity of £11 10s was authorised to be paid to her on 7 November 1919.
His pension cards record Edith, his widow, as his next of kin, living in Charlton, nr Hitchin. She was awarded a grant of £5 on 19 June 1918, then a pension of 20s 5d a week from 16 December 1918 for her and their child Edith Joan (b 19/11/1918).
His wife Edith Smith lived in Charlton and she later remarried to become Edith Walker of Great Green, Pirton. She received his war medals on 13 April 1921.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
