No.6776, Private, Joseph SMITH
Aged 27
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George Smith was born in Hartest (3rd qtr 1887 Sudbury 4a:687) son of John and Lementina SMITH (née UPSON) This is one place (GRO) where he is seen as
George rather than Joseph, he is also George Joseph on the pension card
1891 census...Aged 4, he was at The Green, Hartest with his father John Smith [33] carpenter; his mother Lementina [33] born Whelnetham; brothers Edwin [9] and Harry [6]. All except his mother were born in Hartest. 1901 census...Aged 14,a houseboy, he was at The Green, Hartest with his parent; brothers Edwin [19](carpenter) and Bertie [7]. 1911 census... He appears to have enlisted in the Army in 1904 according to his regimental number. Aged 24 he apparently was a police constable boarding at 120 Disraeli Road, Putney in this census. At The Row, Hartest were his father and stepmother and brother Bertie (a gardener). His mother had died in 1903 and father had married Caroline Alberta GIBBONS in 1909. He married Priscilla SOANES of Belton [24-9-1893] in 1913. She went on to marry Charles Matthews in Wandsworth in 1917 On the pension card his widow was at CWGC has her as Priscilla Matthews at 7 Astonville Street, Wandsworth. His brother Bertie died in Cork, Ireland in 1916, serving in the Leicestershire Regiment. see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds
International Red Cross have him as dying on 9th April 1915 but have no details as to burial. If he was reported missing in August 1914 he more than likely was captured at Le Cateau PA 322 indicates he was in a hospital in Holland with a shoulder wound at some time. 22 January 1915 he was in a camp at Erfurt.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
