Pte
Robert White Smith
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 30/09/1888 |
|
Place of birth: Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
Army information
|
Country: England, United Kingdom |
|
Force: British Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Private |
|
Service number: 38377 |
|
Units: — Highland Light Infantry, 10/11th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 01/08/1917 |
|
Cause of death: Missing in action |
|
Age: 28 |
Memorial
|
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 38 |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Place of birth |
My story
Private Robert White SMITH ( 10th/11th Bn. Highland Light Infantry ( H.L.I. ), 46th Brigade, 15th Scottish Division ) is presumed to be killed in action on the 1st of August 1917.
The day before, the 31st of July, which marks the start of the Third Battle of Ypres, the 15th Division was positioned left of the Ypres-Roulers Railway ; on their left was the 55th Division and on their right, on the other side of the railway, was the 8th Division. As part of the 46th Brigade, the 10th/11th Bn. H.L.I. would participate in the upcoming attack, together with the 7/8th King’s Own Scottish Borderers ( K.O.S.B. ) and the 10th Scottish Rifles in support. The 10th/11th Bn. H.L.I.’s jumping off line was situated between Warwick Farm and Crump Farm. There were three objectives that day ; the first being the Blue Line, the second being the Black Line and the last being the Green Line.
The attack began at 3.50 a.m.. The 46th Brigade advanced pretty fast, this while being under heavy fires from Square Farm, Hill 35 and Frost House. At noon, soon after the first and second objective were taken, the 10th/11th Bn. started to consolidate their line. This line went from Iberian Farm to Beck House. Unfortunately because of some German counterattacks after reaching the Black Line, the 15th Division wasn’t able to reach the Green Line. Despite the fact they didn’t reach the last objective, they were able to strengthen and improve their positions and comfort.
During the break of dawn on the 1st of August 1917 it was relatively quiet and calm. At 10 a.m. the 15th Division received a message that the Germans were massing in D.27, west of Mühle Farm, which made the British troops prepare themselves for a German counterattack. Later on, at 3 p.m., reports came from Beck House that the Germans were advancing from the southeast via Borry Farm towards Beck House. Thanks to the artillery barrages, the British were able to hold the German attack off.
We assume that somewhere during this operation that Private Robert W. Smith got missing and possibly was killed while defending the line at Beck House. He is now remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
The day before, the 31st of July, which marks the start of the Third Battle of Ypres, the 15th Division was positioned left of the Ypres-Roulers Railway ; on their left was the 55th Division and on their right, on the other side of the railway, was the 8th Division. As part of the 46th Brigade, the 10th/11th Bn. H.L.I. would participate in the upcoming attack, together with the 7/8th King’s Own Scottish Borderers ( K.O.S.B. ) and the 10th Scottish Rifles in support. The 10th/11th Bn. H.L.I.’s jumping off line was situated between Warwick Farm and Crump Farm. There were three objectives that day ; the first being the Blue Line, the second being the Black Line and the last being the Green Line.
The attack began at 3.50 a.m.. The 46th Brigade advanced pretty fast, this while being under heavy fires from Square Farm, Hill 35 and Frost House. At noon, soon after the first and second objective were taken, the 10th/11th Bn. started to consolidate their line. This line went from Iberian Farm to Beck House. Unfortunately because of some German counterattacks after reaching the Black Line, the 15th Division wasn’t able to reach the Green Line. Despite the fact they didn’t reach the last objective, they were able to strengthen and improve their positions and comfort.
During the break of dawn on the 1st of August 1917 it was relatively quiet and calm. At 10 a.m. the 15th Division received a message that the Germans were massing in D.27, west of Mühle Farm, which made the British troops prepare themselves for a German counterattack. Later on, at 3 p.m., reports came from Beck House that the Germans were advancing from the southeast via Borry Farm towards Beck House. Thanks to the artillery barrages, the British were able to hold the German attack off.
We assume that somewhere during this operation that Private Robert W. Smith got missing and possibly was killed while defending the line at Beck House. He is now remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
Sources 2
|
McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 25 & 34. Sources used |
|
Stewart J., The fifteenth (Scottish) Division, (Uckfield, The Naval & Military Press, 1926). Sources used |
More information 3
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/917597 |
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=e8680a6a-5219-4472-9eb9-823fb106b484 |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4162977 |