Military History

Henry is listed as being killed in action on 11th August 1918. The 2nd/7th Battalion war diary entries for the period 10th to 12th August and an obituary from the Stratford Herald are transcribed below.

Le Sart Section – 10.8.1918: During afternoon patrols were pushed out and occupied the following line: K.22.a.3.3 – K.22.a.4.5 – K.22.a.6.8 – K.16.c.6.2. Line completely established during night.

Le Sart Section – 11.8.1918: Battalion co-operated with 184^th Infantry Brigade in minor operation.
X Coy – 1 Platoon under 2/Lt Symonds – Objective K.22.b.7.7 to road junction K.22.c.8.7 inclusive.
Y Coy – 2 sections – objective K.22.c.8.7 exclusive to K.22.c.8.0

The attack failed owing to the fact that the original line of the barrage came down on E edge of Wood around K.22.a.6.1 thus leaving the enemy M.G’s untouched.

Strength of Battalion in line 17 Officers 507 OR
Casualties 2/Lt A Colley wounded. Other Ranks Wounded 10, Gassed 5

Le Sart Section – 12.8.1918: Battalion in line. Enemy artillery active on old German Front Line with gas shell and H.E. Battalion relieved by 2/6^th Battn R Warwick R & moved into Brigade Reserve. Relief complete at 3.30am

Strength of Battalion 17 Officers & 495 OR
Casualties: Other ranks Killed 2, wounded & missing 1, Gassed 6

Straford Herald - Friday 30th August 1918
KILLED IN ACTION PRIVATE H. SMITH

Mrs. Smith of Birmingham Road has just received news from the War Office of the death of her husband Private H. Smith of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment who was killed on the 11th inst. in France. Private Smith joined up three years last Christmas, and has gone through some hard fighting. On one occasion he was taken prisoner with a number of others but managed with three of his comrades, to effect his escape. He had been wounded and had rendered fine service to his country.