The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private H P E Smith

Private Harold Percy Edward SMITH, L/10521, 8th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 26th September 1915.

Born Winton, Bournemouth, Hampshire, son of Henry Edward & Louisa Smith, of 5 Smithfield Place, Winton, Bournemouth, Hampshire / 2 Livingstone Road, Pokesdown, Bournemouth, Hampshire / 124, Kimberly Road, Southbourne, Hampshire.

22nd July 1892, Moordown, Hampshire, baptism of Harold Percy Edward Smith, son of Henry Edward & Louisa Smith.

1911 Census - 5 Smithfield Place, Winton, Bournemouth, Hampshire - Henry Smith, head, age 68, married, born Woolwich, Kent, blind from 65; Louisa Smith, wife, age 58, married 36 years, 11 children, 9 still alive, born Shirley, Hampshire; Harold Smith, son, age 19, single, fishmonger, worker, born Winton, Hampshire; Cissie Smith, daughter, age 16, single, domestic servant, worker, born Winton, Hampshire; Thomas Legg, boarder, age 12 months, born Poole, Dorset.

Enlisted Bournemouth, Hampshire, age 21 years & 3 months, height 5ft 8½ inches, weight 140lbs, fresh complexion, light blue eyes, light brown hair. Formerly baker.

Home, 10th September 1914 to 298th August 1915; BEF, 30th August 1915 to 26th September 1915.

10th September 1914, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 12th September 1914, posted 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 8th February 1915, Worthing, irregular conduct in the ranks, 4 days confined to Barracks; 10th May 1915, improper conduct on 8.30pm parade, 4 days confined to Barracks; 30th August 1915, posted BEF & embarked;

13th February 1919, Letter from Miss L Smith, 2 Livingstone Road, Pokesdown, Bournemouth, Hampshire - "Sir, I am writing on behalf of my father Mr H Smith who is blind, to say he has left 5 Smithfield Place, Winton, Bournemouth, and his address is as above, his son H P E Smith 10521 8th Battalion, R W Kents was killed 26th September 1915, in the battle of Loos, should there be anything left concerning money etc kindly send to address given and oblige."

16th June 1919, Statement of Relatives, completed by Elsie May Pitcher, sister - Widow, none; Children, none; Father, Henery Edward, 2 Livingstone Road, Pokesdown; Mother, none; Brothers - William Edward, age 44, 10 Malvern Road, Moordown; Robert Edward, age 42, Navy; Henery Edward, age 40, 194 Malmesbury Park Road, Bournemouth; Charles Edward, age 38, Navy; Albert Charles, age 32, Navy; Sisters - Louie, age 36, Ingarth, Twynham Road, Southbourne; Elsie May, age 30, 2 Livingstone Road, Pokesdown; Alice Cissie, age 24, Active Service.

10th January 1920, Memorial Scroll signed for by Mrs E Pitcher, nee Smith, 2 Livingstone Road, Pokesdown, Bournemouth, Hampshire.

Commemorated at Loos Memorial, Panel 95 to 97, France.

This page was last updated on 07-Mar-2022.