Herbert Smith
WWI Roll of Honour
by Lynette Wray
Herbert Smith
Military History:
Regiment:
Bedfordshire Regiment
Rank:
Sergeant
Service Number:
4/6477
Date of Enlisting:
7.2.1911
Date of death:
21.3.1918
Cemetery/ Memorial:
Pozieres Memorial, Panel 28 and 29, Ovillers-la-Boiselle, France
UK Cemetery/Memorial:
St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour
Ashwell Village War Memorial
Herbert enlisted at Hitchin on 6th February 1912, first serving with the Expeditionary Force and then with the 2nd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment, Regimental number 4/6477. He served in the Western European Theatre of War, France and Flanders, rising to Sergeant before being killed in action near St Quentin, France on 21st March 1918.
The local newspaper reported “Lance-corporal Herbert ‘Harry’ Smith of Silver Street was commended for service in the field. At Neuve Chapelle on 12th March 1915 he was one of a party of eight bomb-throwers who re-took a trench after 2 counter-attacks failed.” Sergeant Smith was more than once commended for his excellent work in the field.
Herbert was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Panel 28 and 29, Ovillers-la-Boiselle, France, the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour and the Ashwell War Memorial.
Family History:
Date of Birth:
25.6.1892
Birth Place:
Ashwell, Hertfordshire
Residence:
Ashwell, Hertfordshire
Marriage:
Single
Herbert was the eldest child of George and Lilla (nee Worboys) Smith of Ashwell, Hertfordshire. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell and before enlisting on 7th February 1911 he was a farm labourer.
Herbert’s brother Harry was killed in action in Belgium on 17th January 1917.
Commentary:
Other references:
1915 August
Events from the pages of the Royston Crow
Lance-corporal Herbert ‘Harry’ Smith of Silver Street was commended for service in the field. At Neuve Chapelle on 12th March 1915 he was one of a party of eight bomb-throwers who re-took a trench after 2 counter-attacks failed. The picture shows him after he was promoted to sergeant.
Name: |
Herbert Smith |
Birth Place: |
Ashwell, Hertfordshire |
Residence: |
Ashwell, Hertfordshire |
Death Date: |
21.3.1918 |
Enlistment Place: |
Hitchin, Hertfordshire |
Rank: |
Private |
Regiment: |
Bedfordshire Regiment |
Battalion: |
2nd Battalion |
Regimental Number: |
4/6477 |
Type of Casualty: |
Killed in Action |
Theatre of War: |
Western Europe, France and Flanders |
This page was added on 02/04/2016.