Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William and Bessie Smith. The War Diary for today records. Night of the 12th/13th July the Brigade was relieved, the Company in support in RAILWAY ALLEY returning to WILLOW AVENUE. Battalion HQ. and other Companies remaining in same positions. The 6th, 7th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT returned to the old English line behind FRICOURT. 3.00pm. Another conference at Brigade HQ. for Commanding Officers and Plan of attack and -?- -?-. The 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGT who were lent to the Brigade for purposes of the attack were taken away at the last minute, owing to the lateness of -?- -?- in receiving their new orders, it was impossible to issue Battalion orders. 6.00pm. Conference of Company Commanders etc. held at Battalion HQ. to discuss plans of attack, general plan according to Brigade orders still holds good with the exception that our artillery barrage on FLAT IRON and FOREST TRENCHES lift simultaneously at Zero. The attack on the BAZENTIN LE PETIT WOOD to be made by 6th and 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT, 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT on right, “A” Company of 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT supporting 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT, and “B” Company of 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT supporting 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. “D” and “C” Companies with Battalion raiders to be responsible for the left flank of the attack in the place of 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGT. Every man to carry two mills grenades, 220 rounds of small arms ammunition, Battalion raiders and platoon grenade groups 20 bombs each, 20 picks and 20 shovels were carried by each Company also green rockets for S.O.S. and green flares for aeroplane signalling from front line. 10.30pm. Battalion raiders, HQ. Signallers, “C” and “D” Companies led by the Commanding Officer and Adjutant marched off from behind WILLOW TRENCH up the railway track through MAMETZ WOOD to the north edge to take up positions for the attack. On the way up “C” Company’s Lewis gun team marched out by a -?-. 2.15am. The first wave of the attack took up position in the open 80 yards to north of north edge of wood, right in railway track, 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT on left, remaining platoons took up their position at about 30 yards distance in the wood. Battalion HQ. situated in the clearing just off the railway at about X.18.c.6.9. in shell holes. Lines of attack were subjected to heavy bombardment from enemy during the -?- prior to the attack causing a number of casualties. Immediately Battalion HQ. was established, signallers commenced to run out a line to Brigade HQ. at X.24.a.3.0. Communication eventually broken by enemy artillery fire. “A” and “B” Companies left WILLOW TRENCH at about 12.00 midnight following in rear of 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT around the eastern side of the wood, -?- -?- up in hollow in clearing out of observation but subjected to artillery fire.