213476 Cpl. Cecil Springett Smith British Army 12th (Bantams) Suffolk Regiment from:Edwardstone, Suffolk Cecil Smith was my maternal grandfather. I have no knowledge of his service history beyond that he was a corporal in the Suffolk Bantams. He had volunteered at the beginning of the war but was rejected as he was only 5ft 6".
He never talked about any combat but when, as a young child, I sat at his knee he told me tales of marching in France. My only real recollection of such tales was one around the fact that he smoked a pipe. Having grown up in the country and worked as a farmhand, thatcher and repairer of farm carts he had learned how to keep his pipe alight by placing a tightly folded green plant leaf, (such as a burdock or thistle) in the top of the bowl. This would keep the tobacco in the bowl and reduce the amount of air getting to it. When the order was given to "stand easy" he would pull the pipe out of his pocket, discard the leaf and give it a couple of hard puffs to get it going again. Apparently on one occasion they paused for a rest break on a route march and, seeing the smoke appear almost instantly the sergeant commented "you got that lit up quick corporal!"
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