The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private E E Smith

Private Ernest Edward SMITH, L/10681, "C" Company, 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 9th April 1917, age 18.

Born 14th November 1896, (on enlistment) / 4th November 1898, (on transfer to Class "W" Reserve), Catford, Kent, son of Charles James & Catherine Alice Smith, of 84, Laleham Road, Catford, London.

1911 Census - 121 Glenfarg Road, Catford SE - Charles Smith, head, age 51, widower, house painter, builder, worker, born Walworth, London; Charles Smith, son, age 27, single, house painter, builder, worker, born Camberwell, London; Lily Smith, daughter, age 19, single, born Camberwell, London; Florence Smith, daughter, age 16, single, general servant, domestic, born Camberwell, London; Ernest Smith, son, age 12, school, born Catford, London; Victor Smith, son, age 8, born Catford, London; Ethel Stevens, visitor, age 21, single, under clothing presser, under clothing maker, worker, born New Cross, London.

Enlisted Bromley, Kent, age 18 years & 3 months, height 5ft 5 inches, weight 116lbs. Formerly printers assistant.

Home, 22nd February 1915 to 30th August 1915; BEF, 31st August 1915 to 8th August 1916; Home, 9th August 1916 to 30th August 1916; Home, Army Reserve, Class W, 31st August 1916 to 1st December 1916; Home, 2nd December 1916 to 4th January 1917; BEF, 5th January 1917 to 9th April 1917.

22nd February 1915, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 27th February 1915, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 4th April 1915, Chatham, Whilst on Active Service, overstaying his pass from Tattoo, 4th April 1915 till Tattoo 5th April 1915, 4 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 2 days pay; 8th May 1915, Chatham, Whilst on Active Serve, absenting himself from Tattoo until Tattoo 9th inst, 7 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 2 days pay; 31st August 1915, posted BEF & 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st September 1915, 5 Infantry Base Depot; 29th September 1915, joined 1st Battalion, "A" Company, Royal West Kent Regiment, In the Field; 29th February 1916, 13 Field Ambulance, ICT heel?, to 19 Casualty Clearing Station; 9th March 1916, 1 General Hospital, abrasion to heel?; 12th March 1916, Havre, 4 Convalescent Depot; 5th April 1916, 5 Infantry Base Depot; 8th August 1916, 55 Infantry Base Depot, under age, to England; 9th August 1916, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 31st August 1916, Maidstone, transferred to Class "W" Army Reserve, age 17 years & 9 months, height 5ft 6 inches, sallow complexion, brown eyes, light brown hair; 1st December 1916, rejoined from Class "W" Army Reserve; 2nd December 1916, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 7th December 1916, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 26th December 1916, Whilst on Active Service was absent from Roll Call until 7am 29th inst when warned for a draft, awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.2. for absence, forfeits 4 days pay; 5th January 1917, posted BEF & 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.

18th June 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, Charles Smith, 84, Laleham Road, Catford, SE6; Mother, none; Brothers - Victor Lionel Smith, age 16, 84, Laleham Road, Catford, SE6; Sisters - Smith Lilian, age 26, 84, Laleham Road, Catford, SE6; Florence Catherine Smith, age 24, 84, Laleham Road, Catford, SE6; Grandparents, none; Nephews / Nieces, none; Uncles / Aunts, none.

Commemorated at Arras Memorial, Bay 7, France.

This page was last updated on 19-Feb-2022.