Pte
Joseph George Smith
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 06/09/1891 |
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Place of birth: Great Wakering, Essex, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Barling, Essex, 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: Private |
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Service number: 40404 |
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Enlistment place: Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Lancashire Fusiliers, 1/5th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Frezenberg, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 26 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: X Row: B Grave: 7 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Joseph George Smith was the son of Joseph Percy and Sarah Caroline Smith. He was born on 6 September 1891 in Great Wakering, Essex. Before the war, he lived in Barling, Essex, and worked as a farm labourer. Joseph enlisted in the British Army and served in the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (125th Brigade, 42nd (East Lancashire) Division).
Joseph was killed on 6 September 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. At that time, the battalion was in the reserve lines near Borry Farm, west of Zonnebeke. Two companies arrived around midnight in the assembly trench in anticipation of the attack. At 7:15 a.m., heavy shelling began on Borry Farm, after which the two companies attacked the position. At the same time, Beck House, Iberian and Hill 35 were attacked by neighbouring troops. Throughout the day, short skirmishes occurred, and there was machine-gun fire, including from Vampir. The attack came to a halt after 150 yards, followed by heavy counterattacks at 10:45 a.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11:10 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the left flank of the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers had to withdraw to its original line. The right flank managed to hold and consolidated their positions, which were located between Frost House and Vampir.
Joseph died on his birthday, at the age of 25. After the war, his body was found near Frezenberg. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Joseph was killed on 6 September 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. At that time, the battalion was in the reserve lines near Borry Farm, west of Zonnebeke. Two companies arrived around midnight in the assembly trench in anticipation of the attack. At 7:15 a.m., heavy shelling began on Borry Farm, after which the two companies attacked the position. At the same time, Beck House, Iberian and Hill 35 were attacked by neighbouring troops. Throughout the day, short skirmishes occurred, and there was machine-gun fire, including from Vampir. The attack came to a halt after 150 yards, followed by heavy counterattacks at 10:45 a.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11:10 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the left flank of the 1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers had to withdraw to its original line. The right flank managed to hold and consolidated their positions, which were located between Frost House and Vampir.
Joseph died on his birthday, at the age of 25. After the war, his body was found near Frezenberg. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Sources 4
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1/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers war dairy (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95 95/2654/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Essex, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1921. https://www.essexrecordoffice.co.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p.72-73. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464684 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=2bae89dc-6329-4fe8-bec1-fc38f045dabb |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4120411 |