South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 38603 James Henry SMITH - 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Died of wounds on Tuesday 30th April 1918 aged 19


Military History

     
Theatre of War Campaign Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders British War & Victory Medals Vignacourt British Cemetery
     
Arrived in Theatre Bravery & Conduct Medals SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 August 1916 in France  ~ Leamington Spa War Memorial
    Leamington All Saints Memorial
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted  
German Spring Offensive (Battle of Lys) February 1916 in Warwick  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
CCS at Vignacourt ~ ~
     

Circumstances of Death

James is listed as dying of wounds on 30 Apr 1918 in Vignacourt, where he was buried in the British Cemetery which was used for burials by the 20th and 61st Casualty Clearing Stations. The 2nd Battalion war diary entries for the period 24th April to 30th April are transcribed below.

Villers-Bretonneux - 25 Apr 1918: Battalion at Villers-Bretonneux Defences N.E. of Villers-Bretonneux.

Villers-Bretonneux - 25 Apr 1918: Counter Attack by Battalion at 6.30am on Villers-Bretonneux. Village cleared and mopped up. 35 Machine Guns and 300 Prisoners captured. Captain R. Whittaker joined Battalion.

Villers-Bretonneux - 26 Apr 1918: Battalion at Villers-Bretonneux Defences

Villers-Bretonneux - 27 Apr 1918: Battalion at Villers-Bretonneux Defences. Battalion came out of the Line (no actual relief taking place) and proceeded to Billets in Glisy

Glisy - 28 Apr 1918: Battalion billetted in Glisy.

Glisy - 29 Apr 1918: Battalion proceeded by march route to and billetted in Boutillierie.

Boutillierie - 30 Apr 1918: Battalion in billets at Boutillierie.

Casualties - Officers: Killed 2/Lieut H.A. Mossman MC. Wounded. 2/Lieut A.A. Davison. 2/Lieut E.K. Moore (since died of wounds). 2/Lieut J. Breakall, 2/Lieut E.T.R. Hoare. 2/Lieut J.L. Carter. 2/Lieut W. Vaughan. 2/Lieut S.B. Cooper (since died of wounds). 2/Lieut A.S. Knott. 2/Lieut A.S.K. [Blank] 

Casualties - Other Ranks: Killed 55. Wounded 166. Wounded (Gassed) 19. Missing 10


 
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Jul Qtr 1898 in Leamington Spa 26 Aug 1898 at Leamington Spa, All Saints
   
Parents Names Abode
Donald David and Anne Smith 3 Chapman's Buildings, Brook Street, Leamington                     
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1898 - Leamington Spa 1911 - School
1901 - Pickards Buildings, 7 Brook Street, Leamington 1916 - Butcher at T.R. Burton's of Church Street, Leamington 
1911 - 7 South View Cottages, Brook Street, Leamington  
1918 - 3 Chapman's Buildings, Brook Street, Leamington