Smith Brothers
10372, Private Harry Herbert Smith, age 22
Died 09 August 1917
Private 10372, 9th Battalion, Essex Regiment. Died 09/08/1917.
Brother of William Isaac below. Born in Walton, 1895, the third son of Harry Herbert Smith & Mary Ann Kidd. The family were living in Queen Street at the time of the 1901 census with Harry Herbert senior working as a gardener. By 1911 with both parents deceased the family had been ripped apart and Harry was working as a baker in Seckford. The eldest child Emily was living with Mary's brother & his family, along with her two children. The eldest son Thomas was serving with the 2nd York Lancaster Regiment. The youngest son Edgar was living with his father's brother also Edgar & his wife in London, all three would shortly emigrate to Canada. Edgar is later found in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
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Died of wounds. Buried at Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-Le-Preux. The inscription on his grave reads "We miss you and mourn you in silence unseen".
Grave at Monchy British Cemetery
The Essex Regiment
1914-1915 Star
1055, Private William Isaac Smith, age 22
8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Died 06 June 1915
Brother of Harry Herbert Smith. Private 1055 8th Battalion Canadian Infantry enlisted September 22nd 1914.
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Born 20 Jan 1893 in Walton. Parents Harry Herbert Smith died 1906 & Mary Ann Elizabeth Kidd died 1908. In 1911 William was working as a Grocers assistant, boarding at Quinton Cottage, Quinton Lane, Walton. There were 3 other siblings Emily Mary Smith b. 1889 in 1911 was an unmarried mother of 2 living with Robert Kidd & his family (her maternal uncle). Thomas Henry Smith b. 1891 in 1911 was a Private with the 2nd York & Lancaster Regiment stationed at Blackdown Barracks, Farnborough. He was later living in Sible Hedingham, Essex as he's mentioned on William Isaac's CWGC records but not on Harry Herbert's. William's medals were sent to Thomas in 1921 who was then living in Braintree. The last child was Edgar b. 1898 who in 1911 was living with Edgar Smith, his paternal uncle in Fulham. Edgar emigrated to Canada with his uncle & William followed later. He is listed as next of kin for both brothers.
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William suffered from a gun shot wound to the left thigh on the 6th of April & moved to No 8 Casualty Clearing Station Bailleul, on the 29th April he was moved to No 10 General Hospital Rouen, a day later he was moved to No 4 General Hospital in Versailles where he died on the 6th of June. Buried at Lillers Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais. The inscription on his grave reads"Farewell dear brother we will trust in god to meet again".
Lillers Communal Cemetery
Canadian Infantry
1914-1915 Star