Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Smith, a lime quarry labourer, born 1853 in Thorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire and his wife Mary Agnes Smith (nee Pearson, married in the 1st quarter of 1876 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 28th February 1857 in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire. Charles William was born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in Barrow upon Soar, his siblings were, John Joseph, a lime burner, born 1877, Sarah Jane, a hosiery trade worker, born 1886 and Caroline, born 1888, all his siblings were born in Barrow upon Soar, in March 1901 the family home was North Street, Barrow upon Soar. In April 1911 Charles was employed as a gardener and was residing in the family home at Church Street, Barrow upon Soar, together with his father, a lime stone quarry worker and his mother. Charles also had an older brother, Edward, born 1879 in Barrow upon Soar. In 1939 Charles’s widowed and incapacitated mother was residing in the family home at 263, Main Street, Barrow upon Soar.
Charles was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
Charles was serving as a policeman in Newark having joined the Borough Police in March 1914, having previously served with the Metropolitan Police. An officer writing to his mother says, “He was buried in the English Cemetery a few miles behind the lines, where several of his comrades lie, and his grave will be marked by a cross giving his name and Regiment. Since your son joined my platoon a few weeks ago I found him always of great assistance, and knew that whatever duty he was called upon to do, it would always be well done. Words of mine can, I know be of very little help to you in your great loss, but I can assure you that we all, officers and men alike, will miss your son sorely, and that we can share with you in your grief, and trust you may find consolation in the thought that your son has given his life for a great cause and in the execution of his duty.”
The War Diary records: 1 Aug-16 – GIVENCHY – Routine. Battalion relieve 16th RIFLE BRIGADE in GIVENCHY Right Sub Section Map Reference See 21st May 1916. “A” Company on Right. “C” Company in the centre, “D” Company on Left, “B” Company in Support.
Posts and Keeps held. “A” Company 1 Platoon Spoil Bank, 1 Platoon GUNNERS SIDING. “C” Company 1 Platoon Orchard Keep. “D” Company 1 Platoon MARIE REDOUBT. Relief complete 10.55pm.
Account of raid carried out on the night 31/1 August:-
“B” Company raided enemy’s trenches at (MAP REFERENCE A.10.c.¾.3.) Killed 2nd Lieutenant H. A. LANGFORD, 2nd Lieutenant F. C. DENNIS, 2nd Lieutenant G. C. BOLTON. Wounded Captain F. B. LUDLOW, 2nd Lieutenant M. A. KENT, 2nd Lieutenant L. E. FLINT. Other ranks. Killed 8, missing 12, wounded 43. Total casualties 69.
Operation Order E.1
Account of Operation E.2.
Officers and N.C.O.’s recommended for gallantry E.3.
Brigade Report of Raid E.4.
SECRET: 117th Infantry Brigade. E.2.
Report on raid of 17th Sherwood Foresters on rear of DUCKS BILL CRATERS on night 31 July/1st August 1916.
At 11.43pm the party assembled in NO MANS LAND and advanced towards the point of entry under cover of our Artillery Barrage, three men were hit during the advance by our own shells. During the advance the party got rather too much to the left and close up under the action, they then right inclined and made for the correct point of entry.
When up by the German wire they came under very heavy machine gun and rifle grenade fire from the rear of the RED DRAGON CRATER. A. and B. parties got through the gap and into the German trenches, A. party bombed several dug-outs and actually had four German prisoners but were bombed out of it. About this time from some unknown source the order to withdraw was given and some men started to go back, when the mistake was found out some of these were rallied and brought back and re-entered the German trenches at a different point of entry.
During the time the parties were in the German trenches they were under Machine Gun and Rifle Grenade fire from the Craters.
Sgt. Brooks reported a mine shaft, but I can’t get any information as to whether the R.E. party was informed of this. D. Party and part of C. also got in.
Getting off the right line of advance in the first instance seems to have caused a great deal of confusion, to which the Machine Guns and Rifle Grenade fire from the Craters added considerably.
Officers killed 2.
Officers wounded 4.
Other ranks killed 3.
Other ranks wounded 47.
Other ranks missing 12.
Total 68.
1.8.16. H. Millward. Lt. Col. Comdg. 17th Sherwood Foresters.
On Friday August 18th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – BARROW CASUALTIES. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, of Lovett’s Yard, Barrow, have received official information that their son, Sergt. C. Smith, of the Sherwood Foresters, was killed in action on August 2nd somewhere in France. Before enlisting on the outbreak of war, Sergt. Smith, who was 23 years old, had served three years on the police force, first with the Metropolitan, and then with the Newark Borough Police. Mr. and Mrs. T. Hames, of Barrow, have received official information that their son, Pte. Wm. Hames of the Leicester’s, has been wounded in the side, whilst in action in France, and has been conveyed to a hospital in Birmingham. Mrs. Archer Nook-lane, Barrow, has received news from a chaplain with the Leicester’s that her only son, Pte. Harry Archer was killed in action on July 14th. The chaplain in his letter of condolence to the mother, speaks of the high esteem in which Pte. Archer was held by the whole company, and of his popularity. Pte. Archer, who was 26 years of age, enlisted about a year ago.