Military Chat

Looking at another thread today, reminded me of this inscription found on my great uncles grave at Lindale, Lancashire:

Nicholas Smith 13 june 1937 78, Mary his wife 3 octr 1922 62,and their son Sergt Harry Smith Killed in Action 1 augu 1917 29 years Interred near Bellewarde lake. (Belgium)

According to CWG Harry died 3 august, could someone with access to ancestry check if there are any service records/medal card available please. Served with Border regiment, number 17343.

Still looking, but were you aware that Harry's service records are on Ancestry?

British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
Harry Smith
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Lindale, Lancashire, England
Enlistment Age: 25
Regimental Number: 17343
Regiment Name: Border Regiment
Number of Images: 24
Form Title: Short Service Attestation

British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

Name: Harry Smith
Regiment or Corps: Border Regiment
Regimental Number: 17343

Award Victory, British & 15 Star.
First entered a theatre of war (France) 23 Nov 1915

UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929
Harry Smith
Gender: Male
Death Date: 3 Aug 1917
Death Place: France or Belgium
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment: 8 Border Regiment
Regimental Number: 17343

Back pay £23 2s 4d authorised to his mother Mary on 1 Jan 1918.
War Gratuity of £15 10/- authorised to his mother on 6 Nov 1919

As his name is inscribed on the Ypres, Menin Gate, Memorial, presumably his body wasn't recovered or identified

Many thanks Det, I appreciate you looking.

I had found the medal card on Nat Archives but you have to pay to view. I no longer have an ancestry sub, as I don't get much time for research these days, maybe when I reduce my working hours later this year I'll get back into it more.

Thanks again

Enlisted aged 25 years,147 days occupation Gardner.
Attested 11 Nov 1914.
Appointed unpaid L Cpl 8 Dec ??
Posted 9 Jan? 16
Appointed a/Cpl 27 6 16
Promoted Cpl 15 7 16
Appointed a/sgt 6 11 16
Promoted Sgt 14 11 16
A lot of the pages are water damaged. There is a copy of a letter from his parents regarding a Plaque dated 23 Feb 1921.
A form submitted by his mother dated ?? Aug 1920 gives the names and ages of the following ‘blood’ relatives
Parents Nicholas & Mary Smith of Low Farm, Lindale Grange
William Smith 38? Back (something) Paythorn Yorkshire
John? Smith 36 *unny something Linsdale Grange
Frank Smith 34 (as above)
Arthur Smith 30 Low Fold, Rochdale
Thomas Smith 28 *unny Terrace Lindsdale Grange
Edward Smith 24 Br****(Broom) Hill Linsdale Grange
Eleanor Smith 4(1?) something Bridge End Serens?

Casualty form –
Enlisted 11 11 14
Date of appointment to lance rank 8/12/15
Wounded in the field 21/12/15
7/1/16 to England per H.S (hospital ship?) St Andrew G.S.W (gun shot wounds) to head and neck
….
Embarked 15/7/16
Joined battalion 27/28 Jul 16
Reported by Sgt P Flynn as wounded in action 14/11/16
Died of wounds 3/8/17
...
Personal effects despatched to mother on 26/1/18. Address given as Low Farm, Lindale, Grange on Sands, Lancs
Receipt received 21 Jul 1920 acknowledging 1914-15 star.
17 Dec 1921 – acknowledged the receipt of the British & Victory medals
…..
Military history
Home 11 ?? 14 – 22 11 15
Expeditionary Force, France 23 11 15- 8 1 16
Home 9 1 16 – 14 7 16
France 15 7 16 – 3 8 17
NOK given as father Nicholas Smith
…..
Medical form dtd 11 Nov 1914
Height 5ft 7ins
Weight 148lbs
Chest 38ins range of expansion 2ins
Complexion Ruddy with grey eyes and brown hair
Religion – CoE
Physical development V good
Furlough granted 25 Feb 1916 – 6 Mar 1916
Low Farm ,Lindale-in-Cartmel, Grange over Sands, Lancs

No disciplinary actions recorded. It reads as if he had a previous injury in the field from which he recovered.
If you can get to a library on your day off, you could probably use their version of Ancestry and print off the 24 pages!

Oh, many thanks Det I really appreciate this. Our library has access to FMP, and I can access that whilst at work as a "guest" - cos we use the same network, but it doesn't work for Ancestry! You've transcribed so much info, I don't know that I need the originals.

I'll try to get to the library, but the records centre has stopped opening at weekends and only opens 3 days a week these days due to cuts in funding, sign of the times the austirity measures are having their toll. May wait till I take out an ancestry sub again, I've plenty to go on with what you've given me - and I can fill in some blanks with his siblings. I think it's Sunny Side &/or Terrace Lindale as i had found some of the family there in 1911.

You are a star :-D

Managed to download the image of the Relatives page & have pmed. Hope it helps with the extended family.

:-D :-D