No.7449, Private, George Henry SMITH
Aged 29
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George Smith was born in 1886 in Bury St Edmunds, ( possibly Bury St Edmunds Q4-1885 4A:670), son of William Henry and Jane Elizabeth SMITH (née TURNER ).
1891 census...Aged 6, he was at Chamois Hall Farm with his father William Henry SMITH [32] head gardener born in Dalham; his mother Jane Elizabeth [29] born in Dalham; sister Regina [10] born Dalham, brother Charles [8] born Bury St Edmunds and sister Nellie [3] born in Woodditton. 1901 census...Aged 16, a farm labourer, he was living in Little Ditton with his parents, sister Rosina, brother William Charles, sister Nellie and brother Arthur Joseph [6] and sister Sarah Jane [3] both born in Woodditton. 1911 census...He has not been found in this census. His parents, sisters Rosina and Sarah, and brother Arthur Joseph were at 79 Little Ditton. Possibly George was in the Suffolk Regiment by then, and the 1st battalion were in Mustafa Pasha Barracks, Alexandria, Egypt at the time. His number signifies a pre war entry. |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. His Regimental number signifies entry into the Suffolk Regiment around November 1906. He had served in BEF, arriving 16th January 1915. The 1st Suffolk were employed in the Ypres Salient, but being wounded and his service record not found, it cannot be said where or when he was actually wounded. He was obviously evacuated to UK for further hospital treatment and seemingly died of his wounds in a hospital in or near Chatham. The Newmarket Journal of 8th May 1915 recorded:- A SOLDIER'S DEATH FROM WOUNDS:- "Pte. George Smith, of the Suffolks, a Woodditton man, who had been wounded in action last week, being shot through the eye, and was brought home to England, died at Chatham military hospital last week. The funeral took place a few days ago at Chatham, the parents being among those present.A memorial service will be held in the parish church, Woodditton on Sunday evening next." |
photo; Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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