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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Pte. Robert Smith
British Army 9th Btn. Norfolk Regiment
from:Mattishall, Norfolk
(d.21st May 1918)
My dear grandad Robert Smith, may he rest in peace, was killed in what was known as the big push on the 21st of May 1918. My grandma, now deceased, was understandably very reluctant to tell me anything about the war but did say that on my grandad's last leave he told her that he didn't think he would be coming home. Of course, she told him not to say such things but this turned out to be true.
Further info from some surviving colleagues suggests that the story was that my grandad and others went to advance over the top and under heavy artillery fire, they dived for cover in a shell crater but a shell from big bertha gun followed them in.
So sad, but we shall remember him and all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice with love and gratitude. May they all rest in heavens peace.
Lt.Col. Robert Cecil Smith
British Army 20th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Great Missenden, Bucks.
(d.1st December 1917)
Lieutenant Colonel Smith was the Son of Maj. Gen. C. H. Smith, C.B. (Royal Artillery), and Tryphosa Smith, of Cecil House, Great Missenden, Bucks.
He attended 11th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
He was 33 when he was killed in action and died of wounds. He is buried in the Falze Communal Cemetery, Trevignano, Italy.
Pte. Robert Smith
British Army 7th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Stockton-on-Tees
(d.20th November 1917)
Robert Smith served with 7th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was aged 31 and a boot maker by trade from Stockton-on-Tees when he was wounded, possibly in the attack at Passchendaele on 26th of October 1917. He died in a military hospital at Rouen on 20th of November 1917 and is buried in St. Sever Cemetery nearby. He was my Great Uncle.
Pte. Robert Boyd Smith
British Army 6th (Perthshire) Battalion Black Watch
from:Crieff
(d.1st July 1916)
I understand that Robert Smith answered the call and volunteered along with his brother James in 1915 and joined the 6th (Perthshire) Battalion of the Black Watch Regiment which formed part of the 51st Highland Division that took part in the Battle of the Somme. I believe that Robert was killed during the offensive on the first day.
Pte. Robert Smith
British Army 8th Btn. Cameronians Scottish Rifles
from:Glasgow
I just remember my Granda Robert Smith singing about "soldiers of the 8th Scots Rifles Glasgow is proud of you where ere we go we fear no foe were soldiers one and all". I remember him telling me he was in Egypt. He worked at the Cowlairs Railway Factory in Springburn.
Sgt. Robert Smith MSM.
British Army 2nd Btn. Cameron Highlanders
from:Glasgow, Scotland
Sergeant Robert Smith served with the 2nd Battalion, Cameron Highlanders in WW1.
Pte. Roland Harold Smith MM
British Army 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
from:Homerton, London
(d.10th May 1918)
Roland Harold Smith was one of two of my grandmother's brothers to die in the war. I don't know what battle he was wounded in, but he consequently died from his injuries on 10th May 1918. He is buried in the British Cemetery at Pernes.
Pte. Ronald William Smith
British Army 16th Btn. Middlesex Regiment
Rowland Ernest Smith
Merchant Navy SS Turcoman
(d.29th October 1917)
SS Turcoman arrived in Montreal Bay on the 26th October having been a member of Convoy OQ13 which had departed Queenstown on 13th October 1917.
Ernest Smith, as he prefered to be called, was rostered to clean the side of the ship. Sadly, the rig that they were using collapsed and Ernest and his crewmate were thrown into the sea. Ernest died on the 29th October 1917 and is buried in the Mont-Royal Cemetery which overlooks the bay. The name and fate of his fellow crew member is not known.
Pte. Russell Aubrey Smith
Australian Imperial Force 34th Btn.
from:Kendall, NSW
A/Sgt. Sam Smith
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
served with 18th DLI & att 13th Corps Work Camp
Pte. Samuel Earnest Smith
British Army 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment
from:Clipstone Street, Leicester
Samuel Smith signed up on the 7th November 1914, he was born 9th January 1897 and so was only 17 on enlistment. He arrived in France on the 2nd of March 1915 with the 4th Battalion, Leicester Tigers. He was machine gunned across his hip and lay in no man's land for several hours until rescued. Discharged 26th July 1916, he was awarded the Silver War Badge and lived into well into his 70's.
Pte. Samuel Smith
British Army 8th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment
from:Worsbrough Common
(d.1st July 1916)
Samuel Smith was a coal miner from Worsbrough Common when he joined the York and Lancaster Regiment Reserves at the start of the war. He was reported killed or missing in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He wasn't married and lived with his parents Mary and Samuel Smith snr.
Pte. Sidney Charles Smith
British Army 15th Btn. Suffolk Regiment
from:Darsham, Suffolk
Sidney Charles Smith was born at Darsham, Suffolk, son of Abraham Smith and Charlotte (Nee Hambling). He married Rose Ann Norman in 1904. He enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment on the 4th May, 1915. Served in France and was wounded three times. He was discharged on the 8th February, 1919. His name is on the Roll of Honour inside All Saints Church, Darsham. After the war Sidney learned the shoe trade under Messrs Ives at Halesworth under the government's rehabilitation scheme. He became a boot repairer. In 1923 he became the village Postman at Darsham. He served as the village Postman for the ext 34 years. He died at Darshamon the 11th May, 1960.
Sidney Ancterbury Smith
British Army 11th Btn. Welsh Regiment
from:Banham, Norfolk
Sidney Smith was the second eldest in a large family in Banham, Norfolk. By the start of World War 1, he was living in Cardiff, aged 27. I know little much more about him, other than that my aunts used to refer to the fact that he was in the army and fought in the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915.
However, I have 2 very interesting postcards in the old family papers, sent to his sister Ruby, in Stowmarket, and his mother Elizabeth in Banham. Sidney is fourth from the right, front row. They are dated 5th of October 1914. So it appears he volunteered immediately war was declared in August 1914, and by 25th of September 1914 this picture was taken of his platoon, still in civvies, just over a month after the beginning of the war. You can see from the picture, they volunteered as the Cardiff Commercial Pals Battalion. And from the note to Ruby, that was officially the 14th Platoon, D Company, 11th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, then at Seaford on the South Coast near Brighton. And he says "Expected to move in about 10 days, destination in London."
I know that Sidney fought at Gallipoli, but nothing as to whether he stayed out there until the end. I do not believe he was injured, but was said to suffer from poor health after his return home until he died in 1944 aged only 56. That may have been connected with mustard gas used in those battles, but I do not know that for certain.
L/Cpl Stephen Smith
British Army 6th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment
from:Sheffield
(d.9th August 1915)
Sydney Smith
British Army Royal Engineers
from:South Hackney, London
Sidney Smith, serving the The Royal Engineers, he was from South Hackney, London, photographed on 21st March 1917.
A group of Royal Engineers 7th June 1916.
Spr. Sydney Thomas Smith
British Army 226th (Tottenham) Field Coy. Royal Engineers
from:Edmonton
Sydney Smith volunteered in 1915 as a qualified paviour (layer of paving slabs). His father was in The Buffs for many years so he came from a military background. He lived in Edmonton with his wife. They had no children at this time as sadly their three babies had all died shortly after birth. He served until July 1917 when he was invalided out. The reason given was 'disordered action of the heart'. Research suggest this was caused by shell shock and/or trench life. After he left the Army, he became a bus driver. He and his wife eventually had 4 children. He died after suffering a thrombosis on the top deck of his bus during his break in 1953.
Company Sjt Mjr. T. Smith
Army 8th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Pte. T. Smith
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Dipton
T Smith was wounded in Sept.1916
Spr. Thomas Henry "Harry" Smith
Australian Imperial Forces 1st Australian Tunnelling Coy.
Tpr. Thomas Robyn Smith
British Army A Squadron Northamptonshire Yeomanry
from:Duston, Northampton
(d.30th Oct 1918)
Thomas Robyn Smith was my Mothers Uncle and my Grandmothers brother. My Grandmother used to tell me he was a loving and generous person who was an active Scout leader. I also know that he was a deeply religious man and an artist. My mother has his watercolours, some are illustrations of flowers but one that I know most is an illustration of "Rock of ages".
Tom answered Baden Powell's call to arms for scout leaders to enlist at the outbreak of the First World War. He was 18 years old. Tom joined the 1st Regiment A Squadron that was raised and based at Cottesbrooke. October 1914 they were moved to Winchester and placed under orders of 8th Division and on the 4 November 1914 they landed in France. Regimental HQ, A,B and C went to France. I believe that D Squadron remained in the UK as the home reserve, but I cannot confirm that.
Following the battle of Neuve Chapelle, for which the Regiment received battle honours the Regiment was split up in April 1915. - Regimental HQ and B Squadron: 14 April 1915 placed under orders of 6th Division. - A Squadron: 13 April 1915 placed under orders of 4th Division. - C Squadron: 12 April 1915 placed under orders of 5th Division.
A Squadron went with the IV Division to take up positions in St. Julian and Frezenburgh. This would be known as the Second Battle of Ypres. This was the first use of gas on the Western Front by the Germans and took the allies by surprise leading to a breakthrough in the British lines. The Germans could not bring up reinforcements to exploit this and eventually they were beaten back to almost their original starting point. The IV Division was almost wiped out during this battle and after a tour on the Canal Front at Beosinghe they were moved South to Beaumont Hamel, which at that time was a quiet sector, to relieve the French.
On the 9 May 1916 Regimental HQ and B Squadron left IV Division and became VI Corps Cavalry Regiment. They were joined by A and C Squadrons two days later. Contrary to the popular myths about the British Army in 1914-18 it is my belief that it learnt rapidly the realities of war and changed tactics accordingly. Cavalry no longer performed in the traditional method as shock troops other than in isolated incidents. They became mobile troops that theoretically could move into position rapidly to exploit a gap forced by the infantry and then they would fight on foot. Also when kept as a reserve move to plug any gaps created by a counter attack. A regiment consisted of 549 Officers and Men. GHQ plus three fighting Squadrons numbering 227 each at full compliment. They also included a Machine Gun Section armed with 2 Maxims and later Vickers machine guns.
In May 1917 VI Corps saw action in the Arras offensive with the Northamptonshire Yeomanry involved in the fighting at what is called the Battle of Scarpe. Again achieving battle honours for the Regiment. Arras saw spectacular gains initially but as with the Germans at 2nd Ypres failure to get support quickly enough led to most of those being lost. Although the British Army was mow learning and the use of the rolling barrage and integrated attacks utilising infantry, tanks and artillery could force a breakthrough. In the Summer of 1917 the Regiment left VI corps, possibly attached to XV Corps.
Then on the 10 November 1917 The Northamptonshire Yeomanry sailed for Italy and became XIV Corps Cavalry Regiment. This move was made to support the Italians who had just suffered a major defeat at the battle of Caporetto against the Austrians, bolstered by Germans and looked likely to fall. They fell back to the Piave River and consolidated their position. The addition of the British XIV Corps, together with French forces prevented any further Austrian and German gains.
On the 18 April 1918 the XIV corps became British GHQ in Italy, so regiment remained attached but were now GHQ rather than Corps troops. In June 1918 the Italians resoundingly beat the Austrian at the battle of the Piave River but then failed to press home their advantage. On the 9th October 1918 the XIV Corps reformed and the Northamptonshire Yeomanry joined it, becoming XIV Corps Cavalry Regiment again. Lord Cavan took command of the Tenth Army in Italy under the Italian General Diaz. This included the XIV corps.
On the 23th October the battle of Vittorio Veneto began with an Italina attack in the mountains. On the 25th the British 10th Army had made resounding successes, capturing Papadopoli Island and establishing a bridgehead over the Piave by the 27th. Together with the Italian 8th Army they pushed the Austrians and Hungarians back to Vittorio Veneto. On the 30th October Vittorio Veneto was taken.
It was on this day that Tom Smith was killed, together with 2 colleagues. It is believed in the family that Tom was killed by an enemy sniper having detected a potential counter attack and warned the regiment. Although this I have not confirmed. Thomas Robyn Smith now lies in a war graves cemetary at Vittorio Veneto. My mother and father were the first of the family to visit his grave a few years ago. I still have a magnificent photograph of Thomas on his horse in his full field uniform hanging in my dining room.
Pte. Thomas Smith
British Army 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Northumberland
(d.22 September 1916)
Rflmn. Thomas Nelson Smith
British Army 9th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps
from:Lichfield, Staffs
(d.29th Jun 1916)
Trimmer. Thomas Edward Smith
Royal Naval Reserve HM Drifter Anchor of Hope
(d.3rd Apr 1916)
Thomas Edward Smith died aged 32. Born in Jarrow, he was the son of the late William and Ann Smith. Thomas E Smith age 27 is recorded as serving as a Stoker 1st Class (Engineer) on board a ship in Indian waters in the 1911 Census. He is buried in Jarrow Cemetery and is commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow. He was commemorated on the Triptych in St. Mark's Church Jarrow (it is no longer a Church)
Sgt. Thomas Stoker Smith
British Army 51st Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
(d.3rd Aug 1917)
Thomas Smith died age 26, he was born in South Shields, son of Anthony and Jane J. Smith. Thomas Stoker Smith, age 20, a Blacksmith Apprentice with North Eastern Railways, is recorded as living with his parents Anthony & Jane Smith at 4 Hope Street, Green Forge, South Shields in the 1911 Census.
Thomas is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord) and is commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow.
Pte. Thomas Smith
Canadian Expeditionary Forces 16th Btn. (Manitoba Regiment)
from:Vancouver, British Columbia
(d.2nd Sep 1918)
Thomas Smith was killed in action on the 2nd of September 1918, aged 23 and is buriedin the Dominion Cemetery in France. He was the son of Mrs Mercy Smith of 4115 Welwyn Street, Vancouver, British Columbia
Pte. Smith was a direct descendant of one Sgt. Robert Perry, late of Major Jessup's Rangers as a United Empire Loyalist during the American War of Independence. He is therefore entitled to the post-nominal of UE. He was killed during the Second Battle of Arras in the assault on the Drocourt-Queant Line on September 2, 1918.
Tpr. Thomas Robins Smith
British Army 1st/1st. A Sqd. Northamptonshire Yeomanry
from:Duston, Northamptonshire
(d.30th Oct 1918 )
Thomas Smith served with “A” Squadron 1st/1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry during WW1 and was killed on the 30th October 1918. He is named on the Memorial in the Northampton Scouts Museum. He is buried in the Tezze British Cemetery, a village north of Venice, Italy. He was the son of Alice G A Smith of Duston, Northampton.
2nd Lt. Thomas Edward Smith
British Army 8th Btn. (Post Office Rifles) London Regiment
from:Winnipeg, Manitoba
(d.5th September 1918)
Thomas Edward Smith was killed in action on 5th September 1918, aged 21 and is buried in the Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension in France. He was the son of William Henry and Judith Ellen Smith, of 290, Lizzie St., Winnipeg, Manitoba.
From the Winnipeg Tribune:
On First Anniversary Brings Details of Son’s Death a Letter from Batman Tells How Winnipeg Officer Met Hero’s End
While giving one of his boy’s who was badly wounded a drink Lieut. T. E. Smith, son of William Smith 290 Montifiore Str., was killed by a German sniper, at Peronne Sept 5, 1918 - two months before the armistice ended the war. A week ago on the first anniversary of his son’s death. Mr. Smith received a letter from Lieut. F. C. Gozette giving details in connection with his death. Lieut. Gozette was with Lieut. Smith when the latter was shot.
Lieut. Smith had visited shell hole after shell hole to see that his boy’s were comfortable. While uncorking his bottle to give a wounded man a drink, he was shot through the neck by a sniper.
"I suppose you had official notice as to how you son died, but I think it would lessen your grief to learn the death of a man, a hero, such as if had he been giving the choice, possibly he would have wished. I was your son’s batman from the time he joined the Imperial unit until his death. He was absolutely loved by his platoon and he was like an older brother to me than a officer. It was during the Somme advance that he was hit. We attacked the last day of August Canal du Nord in front of Moislain near Peronne, and Mr. Smith was in command of our company, all of our other officers having been killed or wounded the day before. While lying in the shell hole after our objective he decided to go around our position to see if all 'his boys' were comfortable. Making our way from shell hole to shell hole cheering the lads as we went, he came across one of his platoon badly wounded. It was while giving the poor lad a drink that a German sniper shot him through the neck. His death was mercifully instantaneous. Two or three of us got the sniper, but unfortunately that did not give us back our officer and pal. His death caused a lot of casualties to the Germans as it made the platoon mad for revenge. I hope you got his bible as he asked me to send it to you if anything happened to him. With the deepest sympathy in your loss of your son by one who regarded as a dear pal." I am sincerely, Lieut. F. C. Gozzet.
Pte. Thomas Smith
British Army 10th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment
from:Bulwell, Nottingham
(d.26th Sept 1915)
Thomas Smith was my great great great uncle. My grandad remembers being told as a child of his great uncle who went to war. Because most of the family worked in the mines, it was considered unusual that he had joined up. His name is listed on the memorial in front of Bulwell St Mary's church, he is simply listed as Smith, and it appears here because this was his home town. He is also listed on the Loos Memorial, France.
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