Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Jeremiah Smith, an agricultural labourer, born 1857 in Exton, Rutland and his wife Matilda Smith (nee Naylor, married in the 1st quarter of 1892 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 8th July 1869 in Preston, Rutland. Jeremiah was born in the 4th quarter of 1895 in Whitwell, Rutland, his half-blood siblings were, Luke, an under wagoner, born 1884, George Edward, a yard boy, born 1886 and Albert, a yard boy, born 1888, the latter three half-blood siblings were all born in Whitwell and his siblings, Ernest, born 19th July 1897 and Archie, born 1900, the latter two siblings were both born in Whitwell, in March 1901 the family home was in Whitwell. In April 1911 Jeremiah, was employed as a labourer, and was residing in the family home at Cottesmore Lodge, Cottesmore, Rutland together with his father, a farm worker, his mother and siblings, Ernest, a schoolboy, Archie, a schoolboy, Walter, a schoolboy, born 1903 and Alfred, a schoolboy, born 1905, the latter two siblings were both born in Harringworth, Northamptonshire and Eric, born 8th October 1910 in Cottesmore. Jeremiah also had an older sibling, Charles, born on the 26th December 1893 in Whitwell and a younger sibling Edwin, born 1904 in John o’ Gaunt, Leicestershire. Jeremiah also had the following older half-blood siblings, William, born on the 19th July 1875 in Exton, Robert, born 1872 in Oakham, Hannah, born 1877, Mary Elizabeth, born 1879 and Christopher John, born 1881, the latter three half-blood siblings were all born in Whitwell. Jeremiah’s half-blood brother William died of wounds on the 17th August 1916 in hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, his older brother Charles was killed in action on the 28th June 1917 and his younger brother Eric died on the 21st October 1943.
Jeremiah enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 15th May 1914 in Oakham, and was allotted the regimental service number 77388. He gave his place of birth as Whitwell, near Oakham, Rutland and age as 18 years 225 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as farm labourer.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 16th May 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 18 years 225 days, that he was 5-feet 3⅞ inches in height, weighed 120 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36 inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had grey eyes and his hair colour was dark brown and his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Mr. J. Smith, mother Matilda Smith, brothers, Ernest Smith, Cottesmore Lodge, Oakham and Charles Smith, Preston, Nr. Uppingham.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Attested. 15/5/14.
Posted. To 1 Depot Royal Field Artillery. Driver. 15/5/14.
Joined. At Newcastle. 19/5/14.
Posted. To 133rd Battery, 3rd Brigade/Reserve. 15/8/14.
Posted. To 3rd Brigade. 10/10/14.
Posted. To 28th Divisional Artillery, 3rd Brigade, 365th Battery. 6/1/15.
Embarked. At Southampton. 15/1/15.
Disembarked. At Le Havre. 17/1/15.
Embarked. Alexandria. 20/11/15.
Disembarked. At Salonika. 1/12/15.
Granted Proficiency Pay Class 2. In the Field. 14/5/16.
Admitted. To -?- , dysentery. In the Field. 6/6/16.
Admitted. To Intarfa Hospital. 15/6/16.
Appointed. Acting Lance Bombardier. Vice Whichens to England. In the Field. 17/9/16.
Embarked. Per H.T. Franconia for active service. 22/9/16.
Posted. To 365th Battery -?-. In the Field. 9/10/16.
Posted. 62/3rd Brigade Base. 11/8/17.
Reverted. To Driver at own request. 17/8/17.
Awarded. 7 days C.C., for mistreating a horse. 21/8/17.
Granted 21 days leave to UK with ration allowance. 16/2/18.
Entrained. Salonika. 14/3/18.
Embarked.19/3/18.
Disembarked. 15/5/18.
Joined. Royal Artillery Base Depot. 18/5/18.
Re-joined. 3rd Brigade, 62nd Battery. In the Field. 21/5/18.
Admitted. To 85th Field Ambulance, N.Y.D. 7/7/18.
Re-joined. 3rd Brigade, 62nd Battery. In the Field. 26/7/18.
Admitted. To 27th Casualty Clearing Station, malaria. 7/9/18.
Re-joined. Unit. In the Field. 14/9/18.
Admitted. To 21st Stationary Hospital, influenza and diarrhoea. 24/9/18.
Admitted. To 28th General Hospital, N.Y.D. 25/9/18.
Admitted. To 67th General Hospital, diarrhoea. 24/10/18.
Transferred. To No.7 Convalescent Depot. 4/11/18.
Transferred. To Royal Artillery Base Depot. 28/11/18.
Joined. Royal Artillery Base Depot. 29/11/18.
Attached. To 196th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. 1/12/18.
Re-embarkation Camp. Salonika. 27/12/18.
Transferred. To 196th Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. 29/12/18.
Permanently and compulsorily retains present rates of pay. Authority G.H.Q., B.E.F -?- 884.
Embarked from Salonika to UK via Taranto per “Huntspill.” 5/1/19.
Died. In Military Hospital, France, appendicitis. 29/1/19.
Buried in St. Germain au Mont d’Or Communal Cemetery Extension, 6¼ miles North of Lyons.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 15/5/14 – 15/1/15. 246 days.
France. 16/5/15 – 4/11/15. 293 days.
Alexandria. 5/11/15 – 20/11/15. 16 days.
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Salonica. 21/11/15 – 18/3/18. 2 years 118 days.
Embarkation leave to UK from Salonica. 19/3/18 – 20/5/18. 63 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 21/5/18 – 29/1/19. 254 days.
Total Service. 4 years 260 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.