Pte
Maurice Smailes
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 13/04/1898 |
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Place of birth: Nunnington, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Nunnington, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
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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: 33413 |
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Enlistment place: Richmond, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — York and Lancaster Regiment, 1st/4th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Berlin Wood, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XIV Row: G Grave: 23 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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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
Maurice Smailes was the son of George Bean and Emma Smailes. He was born on 13 April 1898 in Nunnington, Yorkshire, where he also lived. Maurice enlisted in the British Army and served in the 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment (148th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Regiment).
Maurice was killed on 9 October 1917 during the Battle of Poelkapelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting lines of the 49th (West Riding) Division ran from Kronprinz Farm to near Berlin Wood. The division’s objective was first to advance to the line from Wolf Farm to Lamkeek and then push on to a line from Woodland Plantation to Duck Lodge. The 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment also took part in this attack.
Around 4:00 a.m., the battalion reached its assembly positions. Due to the heavy rainfall prior to 9 October, the terrain had turned into a quagmire. The first obstacle faced by the battalion was the Ravenbeek, which had become deep and wide because of the heavy rain. Only a group of about 50 men from C Company managed to cross the stream. The troops of B Company came under heavy machine-gun fire from Waterfields and Laamkeek and were held up. On the left, the fire was less intense, and troops of A and B Company succeeded in crossing the Ravebeek near the Graventafel Road. Troops of A Company managed to reach Marsh Bottoms and dug in there. D Company attempted to pass them but did not succeed.
During the Battle of Poelkapelle, the 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment suffered nearly 300 casualties. Maurice was also killed, at the age of 19. After the war, his body was found near Berlin Wood. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Maurice was killed on 9 October 1917 during the Battle of Poelkapelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting lines of the 49th (West Riding) Division ran from Kronprinz Farm to near Berlin Wood. The division’s objective was first to advance to the line from Wolf Farm to Lamkeek and then push on to a line from Woodland Plantation to Duck Lodge. The 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment also took part in this attack.
Around 4:00 a.m., the battalion reached its assembly positions. Due to the heavy rainfall prior to 9 October, the terrain had turned into a quagmire. The first obstacle faced by the battalion was the Ravenbeek, which had become deep and wide because of the heavy rain. Only a group of about 50 men from C Company managed to cross the stream. The troops of B Company came under heavy machine-gun fire from Waterfields and Laamkeek and were held up. On the left, the fire was less intense, and troops of A and B Company succeeded in crossing the Ravebeek near the Graventafel Road. Troops of A Company managed to reach Marsh Bottoms and dug in there. D Company attempted to pass them but did not succeed.
During the Battle of Poelkapelle, the 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment suffered nearly 300 casualties. Maurice was also killed, at the age of 19. After the war, his body was found near Berlin Wood. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Sources 5
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1/4 Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2805/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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1911 England Census (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 118-123. Sources used |
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Percy, Douglas, The 1/4th (Hallamshire) Battn., York and Lancaster Regiment, 1914-1919 (London 1926), 79-87. Sources used |
More information 3
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464643 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=e5e7ff98-9f4e-4725-b96a-73ea116ce6cb |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4075306 |