Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Harry Smith, a farmer, born on the 7th March 1863 in Birstall, Leicestershire and baptised on the 25th September 1864 in the Church of St. James the Great, Birstall (son of William Smith, 1832 and Ann Read, 1826) and his wife Harriet Elizabeth Smith (nee Wardle, married on the 10th December 1891 in the Church of St. James the Great, Birstall), born in the January quarter of 1867 in Birstall (daughter of John Wardle, 1847-1929 and Emma Green). John William Harry was born in the April quarter of 1897 in Birstall, his siblings were, Marguerite Hilda, born in the October quarter of 1892, Annie Kathleen, born in the January quarter of 1894, Jessie Emma, born on the 15th December 1895 and Dorothy Ada, born in the January quarter of 1900, all his siblings were born in Birstall, in March 1901 the family home was at Cliff Farm, Birstall, Leicestershire. In April 1911 John was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Cliffe Farm, Birstall, together with his father, a farmer, his mother and siblings Marguerite, a hosiery trade machinist, Annie, a hosiery trade machinist, Jessie, a hosiery trade machinist, Dorothy, a schoolgirl, Marian Lily, born in the April quarter of 1903 and Sarah Annie, born in the January quarter of 1906, the latter two siblings were both born in Birstall.
John’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his 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 Leicester into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 49882.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Transferred. To 2nd Bn. Manchester Regt. Pte. Date and place not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 76425.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Killed in action. In the Field. 4/11/18.
Buried in Ors Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, John nominated his mother, Harriet as his sole legatee.
On the 16th April 1919, John’s mother, Harriet Smith of Crab Lane Cottages, Birstall, Leicester, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of ten shillings, commensurate on the 20th May 1919, this was paid until his mother passed away on the 22nd February 1922.
The War Diary records: 4 No-18 – POMMEREUIL. Dispositions same as 3rd see attached report.
To be attached to War Diary for November.
2nd Battalion The Manchester Regiment.
Headquarters,
95th Infantry Brigade.
REPORT ON OPERATIONS FROM 30-10-18 TO 6-11-18.
The Brigade relieved the 16th Infantry Brigade in the line west of the OISE CANAL, North of ORS on the night 30th/31st October 1918. It was understood the Battalion would take part in an attack over and beyond the Canal at an early date. It was essential that the time prior to the ‘Z’ day should be used to full advantage; consequently, the following points were kept prominently in view.
a] Reconnoitre approaches to Canal.
b] Crossings of Canal.
c] Detailed nature of country beyond Canal.
d] Location of Machine Gun posts beyond Canal.
e] Probable line of enemy S.O.S.
In order to bridge the Canal, it was essential that all enemy West of the Canal be removed. Days prior to Zero were spent in strong deliberate patrolling and in initiating all ranks with every possible detail. Patrols on the nights 30th/31st and 31st Oct/1st Nov., reported enemy this side of the Canal, but only as alarm posts, not permanently held, and not intended as resistance points.
The night 1st/2nd Nov., was spent in an organised clearance of the West bank of the Canal. This was completely done by 17.00, November 2nd, when the last enemy post was raided at dusk and exterminated. The only persons remaining alive were four who were taken prisoners, three Machine Guns along with them.
November 3rd passed without incident, the enemy were carefully observed and their posts approximately noted East of the Canal.
Strong active patrolling took place on the night November 3rd/4th prior to Zero at 05.45, November 4th.
The Battalion attack was to take place with two Companies in the line, one in Support and one in Reserve. The Canal was to be bridged by Royal Engineers after the initial 5 minute’s barrage which was to fall on the East bank of the Canal. During the ensuing half hour stationary barrage, the bridging would be done, the Canal crossed. Companies re-formed along the Battalion area and preparations completed for advancing with the barrage to the YELLOW, BLUE and RED final line.
Orders were issued for cases of emergency, definite Officers and personnel were to be superintended.
1] The initial forming up.
2] The crossing by the bridge.
3] The re-forming on the East bank.
4] The liaison with flanking units.
5] The minute co-operation with the Barrage Table.
6] The communications.
7] The stragglers posts.
The following happened.
1] The initial forming up without incident.
2] Preliminary 5 minutes barrage with all personnel ready to dash forward.
3] The attempts to bridge the Canal under most terrific Machine Gun fire, heavy Trench Mortar fire, and a spasmodic artillery fire. The R.E.’s in throwing over the bridge worked in a magnificently gallant manner but were decimated with perishing fire. The bridge was actually thrown across and two platoons immediately rushed over, establishing themselves on the Eastern bank to cover other troops. It was at this time that an enemy shell knocked the bridge away and no further crossing of troops was possible. Repeated endeavours were made to get across but the fire from the opposite bank was intensely destructive.
4] All personnel were methodically withdrawn under cover on the Western bank. Double runners were despatched to both flanking bridges to ascertain if a passage was possible elsewhere. The entire situation was promptly reported to Advanced Brigade Headquarters.
It was learned that the Northern flank bridge was not across but that the Right Brigade had affected a crossing at ORS Church.
5] The original Support and Reserve Companies proceeded immediately to this bridge with orders as under.
a] To cross rapidly and turn sharply left pushing Northwards.
b] To brook no opposition and to turn Eastwards on reaching original objective line.
c] To push forward as rapidly as possible to the YELLOW LINE and to keep abreast of, and liaison with the Right Brigade.
d] To detail a special party for North flank protection where the enemy were strongly resisting at DE LA MOTTE FARM. This party was to affect a junction with the Lancashire Fusiliers where they should have crossed the Canal but was unable to give more than flank protection owing to withering fire.
6] These Companies reached the YELLOW LINE before noon, but the Left Company swung back its Northern flank as there were many hostile posts in that direction.
The two remaining Companies were brought into frontal and flank support and reserve with definite instructions to reinforce wherever necessary and to again endeavour to assist the Lancashire Fusiliers at their crossing point.
7] As the Lancashire Fusiliers were unable to cross, they came round by ORS bridge with definite orders to attack DE LA MOTTE FARM and protect our flank.
8] Under orders from Brigade the advance on the BLUE LINE was begun and the objective reached at 19.00. Orders were then issued to push up to the RED LINE which would have been done but for the following reasons.
a] No further advance was made by the 14th Infantry Brigade.
b] The night was intensely dark and the country thick.
c] The Left flank was woefully exposed. The men rested during the night for a few hours on a line approximately 500 yards East of the BLUE LINE.
9] The move to the RED LINE was continued at dawn and posts were there established and consolidated by 06.45. Touch was maintained with the 14th Infantry Brigade. The 97th Infantry Brigade passed through at a later hour.
The following points were noticed.
a] The enemy barrage fell West of our forming up point.
b] Spasmodic fire was kept up on the Canal.
c] The enemy intended to hold this line to the bitter end.
d] Once routed out of his defences he resolved his policy into one of fighting rearguard.
Casualties were.
3 Officers killed.
5 Officers wounded.
22 Other Ranks killed.
81 Other Ranks wounded.
18 Other Ranks missing.
Captures were.
About 80 prisoners.
At least 30 Machine Guns.
One Battery 77mm Field Guns.
One 5.9 Gun.
The captures are entirely approximated.
November 6th: The Battalion is comfortably billeted in the SAMBERTON area.
Signed. Lieut. Colonel, 6/11/18. Commanding 2nd Battalion The Manchester Regiment.
On Friday November 4th, 1921, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 7, under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – IN MEMORIAM. – SMITH. – To the loving memory of John William Harry Smith, only son of Mrs. and the late Harry Smith, Birstall, who fell in action, Nov. 4th, 1918.
And under the same heading. SMITH. – In loving remembrance of our brother, William Smith, killed in action Nov. 4, 1918. Beyond the cloud with its shadow is the star with its light. – Daisy and Billie.
And under the same heading. SMITH. – In loving memory of Pte. W. Smith, late of Cliffe Farm, Birstall, who fell in France Nov. 4, 1918. - Still silently mourned and sadly missed by his two chums, Walter and Bert.
[recognitum XIII-I-MMXXIII]