Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Smith, a shoe trade pressman, born in the January quarter of 1847 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire (son of Thomas Smith, 1823 and Ann Rudkin, 1826) and his wife Eliza Ann Smith (nee Headley, married on the 8th September 1874 in St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester), born in the October quarter of 1852 in Leicester and baptised on the 14th November 1852 in Christ Church, Leicester (daughter of Henry Headley, 1833-1913 and Ellen Bosworth, 1832-1877). Alfred Ernest, a schoolboy, was born in the January quarter of 1886 in Belgrave, Leicester, his siblings were, Henry Thomas William, a shoe trade pressman, born in the January quarter of 1875 and baptised on the 3rd October 1875 in St. Mark’s Church, Leicester, William, a shoe trade clicker, born in the April quarter of 1876, Bertie Joseph, a shoe trade finisher, born in the October quarter of 1877 and Charles Louis, a schoolboy, born in the January quarter of 1880 and baptised on the 28th January 1892 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Belgrave, Leicester, the latter four siblings were all born in Thurmaston, Eleanor Annie M., a schoolgirl, born on the 26th February 1882, Frederick George, a schoolboy, born in the April quarter of 1884, Jessie Marion, born in the January quarter of 1888 and Edwin Arthur, born on the 6th November 1889 and baptised on the 28th January 1892 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Belgrave, Leicester, the latter four siblings were all born in Belgrave, Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at 64, Leire Street, Belgrave. In March 1901 Alfred was employed as a shoe trade laster and was residing in the family home at 64, Leire Street, Belgrave, together with his father a shoe trade foreman pressman, his mother and siblings, Eleanor (Nellie), a shoe trade stockroom worker, Frederick a shoe trade pressman, Jessie and Edwin. Alfred’s mother died aged 49 years, in the July quarter of 1901 in Leicester. In April 1911 Alfred was absent from the family home at 64, Leire Street, Belgrave, residing there was his widowed father, a domestic gardener and his sister Eleanor (Helen), a shoe trade worker and his niece, Constance Smith, a schoolgirl, born 1904 in Leicester, meanwhile Alfred was employed as a cast iron pipe fettler and was residing as a boarder at 5, Fernie Avenue, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. In the July quarter of 1912 Alfred married Elizabeth Cooper in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district, Elizabeth was born on the 28th June 1887 in Leicester and baptised on the 21st August 1887 in St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, Leicester (daughter of John Henry Cooper, 1849 and Ann Riley, 1851). Alfred and Elizabeth had two children, Elizabeth Ann, born on the 5th February 1914 and Alfred Michael, born on the 5th October 1916, both children were born in Melton Mowbray.
Alfred’s elder brother’s Bertie Joseph and Frederick George also died from wounds received in action.
Alfred’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 16372.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 20/5/15.
Promoted. Lance Corporal. In the Field. Date not known.
Wounded in action. In the Field. Date not known.
Admitted. To No.1 Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. Date not known.
Died of wounds. In No.1 Casualty Clearing Station. 17/3/16.
Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, West Vlaanderen, Belgium
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Alfred nominated his wife, Elizabeth as his sole legatee.
On the 29th September 1916, Alfred’s widow Elizabeth, of 22, Mill Street, Melton Mowbray was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of fifteen shillings, for herself and her two children, commensurate on the 9th October 1916.
On Friday April 7th, 1916, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MELTON SOLDIER DIES FROM WOUNDS. Mrs. A. E. Smith, 32, Mill-street, Melton Mowbray, received the following official notification on Tuesday, that her husband had died from wounds: - “War Office, London, S.W., 3rd April, 1916. Madam, - In reply to your inquiry of the 29th March, 1916, I am commanded by the Army Council to inform you that No. 16372 Lance-Corpl. A. E. Smith, of the Leicestershire Regiment, has been reported in the casualty list which reached this office as having died in the 10th Casualty Clearing Station from a gunshot wound in the left arm on the 17th March, 1916. I am to express the sympathy of the Army Council with the soldier’s relatives. I am, madam, your obedient servant, R. W. Brane.” The previous Thursday, Mrs. Smith received an intimation that her husband had been wounded, but no details were given. She had previously been informed of the fact by a neighbour. Lance-Corpl. Smith, was 29 years of age last February, and was in the employ of the Holwell Iron Co. He voluntarily enlisted in December, 1914. Deceased was a prominent member of the Holwell Works Football Club, as was also his late brother, Albert, who was killed in action on the 3rd September last. Two other brothers are serving in France, and one in East Africa, while yet another one is expecting to be called up with his group. Lance-Corpl. Smith leaves a widow and one child, aged three years, for whom much sympathy will be felt.
On Friday April 14th, 1916, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – DIED FROM WOUNDS. – LANCE-CORPORAL A. E. SMITH of the Leicestershire Regiment, whose home was at Melton, and whose death, as the result of a gunshot wound, was recorded in our last issue. (A photograph accompanied the article).
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