Cpl
Harry Smith
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 15/08/1889 |
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Place of birth: Pirton, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Pirton, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Farm Labourer |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Corporal |
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Service number: 265408 |
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Units: — Hertfordshire Regiment, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 31/07/1917 |
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Place of death: Schüler Farm - Artilleriegehoft, Langemark, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 27 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: X Row: D Grave: 5 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Harry Smith was born in Pirton on 15 August 1889, the son of James and Lydia Smith. Before the war, like wine father, he wqs farm labourer. When he enlisted, he joined the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment. Alfred's battalion saw action on 31 July in the Battle of Pilkem, a battle that took place on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele. The battalion suffered heavy losses.
Harry had been at the front since 6 November 1914, making him one of The Old Contemptibles, an unofficial title borne by members of The British Expeditionary Force who saw action before 22 November 1914. Many of them were professional soldiers or reservists.
On 31 July, around four in the morning. Arthur and his comrades advanced towards Langemark. This place was the target of the attack. The attack went according to plan, until they crossed the Steenbeek towards Langemark. Slachotffers were made by machine-gun fire and snipers. St Julien was completely taken but partly due to barbed wire fences, they did not manage to advance further. Due to a German counterattack on the left flank, the battalion had to fall back. The casualty figures were enormous. 459 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. Harry Smith fell just north of Schüler Farm.Currently Harry rests at Tyne Cot Cemetery, he was 26.
Harry had been at the front since 6 November 1914, making him one of The Old Contemptibles, an unofficial title borne by members of The British Expeditionary Force who saw action before 22 November 1914. Many of them were professional soldiers or reservists.
On 31 July, around four in the morning. Arthur and his comrades advanced towards Langemark. This place was the target of the attack. The attack went according to plan, until they crossed the Steenbeek towards Langemark. Slachotffers were made by machine-gun fire and snipers. St Julien was completely taken but partly due to barbed wire fences, they did not manage to advance further. Due to a German counterattack on the left flank, the battalion had to fall back. The casualty figures were enormous. 459 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. Harry Smith fell just north of Schüler Farm.Currently Harry rests at Tyne Cot Cemetery, he was 26.
Sources 7
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112 Infantry Brigade (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), British Army war diaries 1914-1922, WO 95/2590/2. http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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1891 England Census (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG12). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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1901 England Census (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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1911 England Census (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906 General Register Office. https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ Sources used |
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Medal Card Harry Smith (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War, WO 372/14/212114). http://Nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60 (NAM) 1991-02-333. https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464673 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=ae5bf9b8-a93b-49f8-a4ec-8688d93060bf |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/4106893 |