Name
Thomas Smith
Circa 1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
53427
Durham Light Infantry
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 68 to 72.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin War Memorial, St Mary’s Church Memorial Book, Hitchin, Not on the Therfield memorial
Pre War
Thomas was born around 1879 in Therfield, Herts. - the source being his service record, which reads ‘none’ against father, mother and siblings. As explained below, we have yet to positively identify his parents.
I was difficult to find details for Thomas and his family before 1911. The reasons are explained by the confusing census records and pension card records detailed below.
What is certain is that in 1911 a Thomas Smith, born in Therfield, was living at 10 Banyards Yard, Hitchin and working as a roadman for Hitchin Urban District Council. The other person present was Edith Agnes Lucy Russell, who was listed as 25 and housekeeper, born in Hastings, Sussex. Given her name and that an Edith Agnes Lucy was later recorded as Thomas’ wife, we believe him to be the man from Hitchin who served as Pte. 53427 in Durham Light Infantry and who married Edith Agnes Lucy Russell (b 9/11/1880) on 22 July 1916, with the marriage registered in Maidstone, Kent.
A pension card shows three brothers served, they were Albert, James and Thomas (with the correct service number). It was hoped that this information would help identify Thomas’s parents, as one would assume they all shared the same parents. This seemed to be the case as Albert and James’ parents were recorded as Aaron and Susan Smith, of 9, Luton Rd., Markyate, Dunstable., Beds. Then, looking at the 1901 census (North Cottages, Markyate) and the 1911 census (9 Church Walk, Dunstable), in both, their children include Thomas (of the right ages and born in Therfield), and siblings Alfred and James. So it seems likely that Aaron and Susan were also the parents of Thomas. However, to be sure we need to explain why Thomas also appears in the 1911 census above and in Hitchin – any help would be appreciated!
Also interesting is that although an Aaron is noted as a beneficiary on some pension after an Isobel Susan Smith’s death, he was only allocated the pension for James.
Thomas was called up in Canterbury and had his medical on 27 July 1916 and was described as 36 years and 238 days old, a farm worker and 5’ 5 ¼”, 133 lbs with a chest measurement (fully expanded) of 36”. Living at Beach Cottages, Marden Kent. He had served in the 3rd Bedford Militia and was married.
After his call up his wife return to Hitchin and was living back in at Banyards Yard, Hitchin, but this time at number 5 - she was recorded there in October 1919, January 1920 and when his plaque and scroll were sent out. In 1911 this was the address for Frederick William and Mary Rachel Russell, who we presume to be Edith’s parents and who were still there in 1916, when Edith returned.
Officially Thomas was recorded as born in Therfield and enlisting in Canterbury.
Wartime Service
Thomas was originally Private 5872 and his service commenced on 27 July 1916. After training he left Folkestone for Boulogne and overseas service on 18 December 1916,. He was posted to the 14th Durham Light Infantry as Private 5872 the following day and went to Etaples. He joined the battalion in the field on 8 January 1917. It was shortly after this that he was renumbered to service number 53427.
On 15 November 1917 he suffered a gunshot wound to his left knee, although this was described as “Injury not serious”, and was taken to 18 Field Ambulance. The wound was reported on an official for Accidental or Self Inflicted Injuries, so this meant an investigation. The report says: “Whilst employed on sanitary duties, this man threw a bundle of rubbish into the incinerator. A cartridge amongst the rubbish exploded in the fire & the bullet hit the man in the knew. MO’s statement attached.”
The MO’s statement was very similar but added that there were no witnesses. Thomas’s statement was dictated, as he was unable to write, it read: “On the morning of the 15th, inst. I was burning rubbish at the incinerator and a cartridge exploded in the fire, the bullet striking me in left knee.” Thus was dictated to Pte. S Whittall R.A.M.C. at No 6 Stationary Hospital and signed with Thomas’s mark “X”.
The judgement was that the injury was accidental.
He had recovered by 5 December and was in Etaples and then back with his battalion on the 9th.
He was given leave to the UK in January 1918. When he returned he was posted to the 11th Battalion on 6 February 1918.
The Germans launched that massive Spring Offensive on the 21 March 1918, an event that caused chaos, retreat and nearly broke the British lines. The 22nd alone takes up 4 pages of the 11th Battalion War Diary and the chaos continued. The War Diary records the casualties for the 22nd to the 31st as 1 officer killed, 6 missing and 8 officers wounded and 3 missing and wounded and 7 missing. In the other ranks 16 killed, 3 died of wounds, 221 were wounded, 0 were recorded as missing and wounded and 215 were missing.
In his old Battalion the 14th old 3 men died in the same period.
Thomas was posted missing 22 March 1918. His widow continued to receive her separation allowance of 12s 6d a week..
The military decided in August 1918 that there was sufficient evidence to assume that Thomas had died and that his family should be informed. It is not clear whether this was believed as there is a report showing that enquiries were made of the British Red Cross & Order of St John Enquiry into his fate on 20 November 1918. however it was eventually accepted that he was killed on or about 22 March 1918.
Additional Information
On 18 October 1919 his widow, Edith Agnes Lucy Smith, completed a ‘widow’s’ form and at that time she was living at 5 Banyards Yard, Hitchin. It recorded that they had no children.
After his death £5 16s 10d pay owing was authorised to go to “R P York”? on 21 November 1919. Later, a war gratuity of £15 0s 4d was authorised to be paid to is widow on 3 January 1920.
The following pension records are confusing:
One WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers card which seems to suggest that there may have been three brothers serving: Albert as 29210 Essex Regt., James 22714 Bedford Regt. and Thomas (53472 corrected to 53427), and that all three were killed in action (28/4/1917, 3/5/1917 and 22/3/1918 respectively). This presumed because the card refers to the relationship of mother, aged 57, but does not name her. Also, somewhat confusing (and unclear), it seems give the particulars of the claimant (mother?) as at the ? Bernardo’s Home, 18 – 16 Stepney Causeway? London E1. First thought is that they all came from there but perhaps that is where their mother was working?
Another pension card also names all three soldiers suggest a claim is being made Isobel Susan Smith, the unmarried wife of Albert, giving addresses in Hertford and Dunstable. It suggests that she died in February 1936, when the details were changed to Aaron (father) with an address in Toddington, Beds. and another annotation suggests he only received the pension for James only.
Clearer is Thomas’s pension card for Edith Agnes Smith, his widow and next of kin. She was living at 5 Banyards Yard, Hitchin and was awarded a pension of 13s 9d a week from 2 December 1918, then a grant of £5 on 11 August 1919.
Thomas’s medals were sent to his widow who signed for them on 3 February 1922.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
