Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Henry Smith, a market gardener, born on the 4th January 1872 in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire and baptised on the 31st March 1872 in St. Peter’s Church, Winchcombe (son of Charles Smith, 1846-1915 and Emma Talliss, 1842-1910) and his wife Frances Sarah Smith (nee Preston, married on the 4th September 1898 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Coleorton, Leicestershire), born on the 13th January 1873 in Coleorton and baptised on the 29th September 1874 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Coleorton (daughter of Charles Preston, 1843 and Elizabeth Weston, 1841). Charles Henry was born on the 7th August 1899 in Coleorton and baptised on the 3rd September 1899 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Coleorton, he had one sibling, Alfred Edward, born on the 20th January 1901 in Worthington, Leicestershire and baptised on the 31st March 1901 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Coleorton, in March 1901 the family home was at Gelsmoor, Worthington. In April 1911 Charles was residing in the family home at Nottingham Road, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, together with his father, a florist’s gardener, his mother and siblings, Alfred, Leonard Arthur, born on the 30th October 1902 in Worthington, William Ernest, born on the 7th June 1905 and baptised on the 6th August 1905 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Coleorton and Reginald George, born on the 14th April 1910 and baptised on the 29th June 1910 in St. Helen’s Church, Ashby de la Zouch, the latter two siblings were both born in Ashby de la Zouch. Charles also had the following siblings, Frances Louise, born on the 30th September 1911 in Ashby de la Zouch and baptised on the 8th November 1911 in St. Helen’s Church, Ashby de la Zouch and Kathleen Mary, born in the July quarter of 1914 in Ashby de la Zouch and who died, aged 6 years in March 1921and was interred on the 24th March in Ashby de la Zouch.
The Brigade of Guards service records all exist, but were deposited in 2018 with the Ministry of Defence in Glasgow, the exception being the Scots Guards, whose service records are now in the possession of the Trustees of the Scots Guards Charitable Trust, and are free to access. The remainder of the Foot Guards records are available at the current cost of £30.00 per inquiry (2019). Therefore, the currently available information pertaining to Charles’ military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Ashby de la Zouch, date not known.
Joined. At Guards’ Depot, Caterham, date not known.
Posted. To Grenadier Guards. Pte., date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 18515.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Grenadier Guards, date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 16/3/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. 22/11/15.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Charles nominated his father, Thomas as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 22 Nov-15 – Relieved by the 4th Battalion and proceed to Brigade Reserve billets LA BASSEE road. Captain Viscount Lascelles – 2nd Lieutenant Paget returned from leave.
From the War History: -
On the 16th it went into trenches at Chapigny with two Companies in the front line, one in support and one in reserve at Rue Bacquerot, where the Germans were very quiet, but the inevitable sniping made it dangerous to anyone who exposed himself. A great deal of work had to be done improving and draining the trenches, but the men were wonderfully well equipped during the cold weather, for they had high waders, leather waistcoats, mackintosh caps, and good gloves.
The above is an account taken from the three volume History: - The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914 -19 by Lieut. Colonel The Right Hon. Sir Frederick Ponsonby (Late Grenadier Guards).
On Monday, November 29th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Unofficial news has been received at Ashby that Private C. H. SMITH, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, has been killed in France. The news was received on Saturday by his father, Mr. T. H. Smith, of Old Park Villas, Nottingham-road in a letter from a comrade of the dead soldier, who was probably the youngest Ashby man serving, being barely 16. He was amongst the first to enlist when the war began. Private A. LITHERLAND of Chapel-yard, belonging to the 1/5th Leicestershire Regiment, has also been killed in action.
On Friday December 17th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page two, under the heading. – YOUNGEST LEICESTERSHIRE SOLDIER KILLED. – Private Charles Henry Smith, 1st Grenadier Guards, who was killed by a sniper in France on November 29th last. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Smith, of Nottingham-road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and he was the eldest of six boys. He is probably the youngest lad to lay down his life from this district, being only 15 years 1 month when he joined the colours, and barely 16 years old on the day of his death. (A photograph accompanied the article).
[recognitum XII-XI-MMXXII]

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday December 3rd, 1915

Two Ashby Soldiers Killed

Unofficial news has been received at Ashby that Private C. H. Smith, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, has been killed in France. The news was received on Saturday by his father, Mr T. H. Smith, of Old Park Villas, Nottingham Road, in a letter from a comrade of the dead soldier who was probably the youngest Ashby man serving, being barely 16. He was amongst the first to enlist when the war began. Private A. Litherland, of Chapel Yard, belonging to the 1/5th Leicestershire Regiment, has also been killed in action.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 10/09/2017