Private 267394 Alfred SMITH

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Private 267394 Alfred SMITH - 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in Action Thursday October 4th 1917 aged 29

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	British War & Victory Medals	Tyne Cot Memorial

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
23 Aug 1917 in France	~	Alcester - War Memorial Cross \| British Legion Tripytch

Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted	Other Service Information
Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele)	10 Dec 1915 at Stratford on Avon	11 Dec 1915 to Army Reserve
		15 Sep 1916 - Mobilised
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
near Langemarck

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

Alfred is listed as being killed in action on 4 Oct 1917 near Langemarck during the one day Battle of Broodseinde. His body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

The war diary for the Operations of the 4th, 5th and 6th October 1917 is transcribed below.

4 Oct 1917

Langemarck/Broembeek Reference Map.

Dull day and little rain. On 4th October zero hour is at 6-0am. 10th Infantry Brigade attack with the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders and 3/10th Middlesex Regiment assaulting battalions, 1st R. War. R in support and Household Battalion in reserve at Soult camp. The first objective red line and second objective green line as shown on map. Very good barrage put down by our artillery, enemy put up a large number of coloured lights. Kangaroo Trench is captured at 6:20am. Enemy slow at putting his barrage down, he shells Langemarck heavily. Between 8 and 9:00pm vicinity of Headquarters shelled with a few 4-2’s.

At 1:15pm orders received from 10th Infantry Brigade that Battalion is to reinforce the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders. Coys March off at 1:30pm by platoons at 2 minute intervals via Au Bon Gite and Langemarck in following order:- A.B.C Coys. Coys arrive at Eagle Trench about 3:30 PM coming under heavy enemy barrages just West of Langemarck and just East of same place but suffer few casualties.

This situation was then explained by O.C 2nd Seaforth Highlanders which was that his left flank was unsupported and in the air. A and B Coys was sent forward to reinforce and get in touch with 2nd Seaforth Highlanders and C Coy to keep in close support. The leading Coys came into touch with the enemy before reaching 19 Metre Hill and were held up by machine gun and rifle fire from the left flank.

Two strong patrols were sent forward under Lieut J S Morriss and two pillboxes, one machine gun, one German officer and 7 men were captured at V. 18. c. 4.5. Lieut J S Morriss was killed shortly afterwards by an enemy sniper. This was in the 20th Division area. Our line then advanced and took up a position on the reverse slope of 19 Metre Hill. Patrols were again sent forward with the object of getting in touch with troops on the right and left. Connection was established with 2^nd East Lancashire Regt on the right no connection could be obtained on our immediate left. Our support Coy was then ordered to form a defensive flank which was accomplished. At length connection on our left was gained with 1^st Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 29th Division at 4:00am.

5 Oct 1917

On 5th October this Battalion sent two platoons to fill up the gap on the left about V.18.c.35.55. About 6:00am patrols were again sent forward to endeavour to find position of the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders and 3/10th Middlesex Regt but owing to heavy machine gun fire of the enemy these were unable to advance more than 200 yards failing to find the advanced troops. About 11:30am on 5th October orders were received from 10th Infantry Brigade to consolidate the position gained and not to push on further.

On the night of 5/6^th October the Battalion relieved the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders and 3/10th Middlesex Regiment at 10pm. The 2^nd South Wales Borderers taking over the portion of the line the Battalion was holding and touch was gained with 1s Rifle Brigade on the right.

6th/7th Oct 1917

The Battalion was relieved on the night 6/7^th by the 1^st Rifle Brigade and 2^nd South Wales Borderers, each battalion taking over the right and left respectively. After relief Coys marched back to Hulls Camp near Canal Bank and arrived about 3:00am 7th October. A very wet night and Coys very tired and fatigued. The whole battalion performed gallantly under the most trying conditions. Complimentary messages were received from G.O.C Division and the Brigade Commander.

Per the Detailed Statement of Casualties for the month of October there were a total of 101 casualties over the 3 days period 4-6th Oct 1917. END

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
19 Jun 1881 at Alcester	17 Aug 1881 at Alcester

Parents Names	Abode
Charles and Elizabeth	Alcester

Wife & Marriage Date/Place	Children & Year of Birth
Irene Louisa Smith nee Moule	Iris May born 27 Jul 1907 \| Alfred Leslie born 22 Jan 1907
12 Jun 1905 at Studley, St. Mary's	Harvey Lawrence born 28 May 1910 \| Irene Pansy born 29 Jul 1915

Schools	Colleges
	~

Address History	Employment History
1881 - Bleachfields, Alcester	1891 - Scholar
1891 - Seggs Lane, Alcester	1901 - General Labourer
1901 - Seggs Lane, Alcester	1905 - Labourer
1905 - Tom's Town, Studley	1911 - Labourer / Bricklayer
1911 - School Road, Alcester	1915 - Builders Labourer
1915 - Gas House Lane, Alcester
1917 - Seggs Lane, Alcester

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