Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the eldest son of John Alfred Smith, a butcher and grazier, born the 3rd quarter of 1854 in Bitteswell, Leics., and his wife wife Harriet Smith, born 1856 in Bitteswell, Leics., who was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Grimson. Thomas William Edward was a schoolboy, and was born on the 5th June 1893 in Swinford, Leics., his siblings were, Louisa Maud, born 1888, Horace Arthur Alfred, born 1896 and Frederick Valentine, born 1897, all his siblings were born in Swinford, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at The Butcher’s Shop, Top Street, Swinford, Leics. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a railway clerk and was residing in the family home at Swinford, Leics., together with his widowed father, a butcher and postmaster, and his siblings, Annie Gertrude Elizabeth, who was assisting in the business, born 1882 in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, Warwks., Louisa, who was assisting in the business, Horace, who was assisting in the business and Frederick, a schoolboy. Thomas was educated at Swinford School and Lutterworth Grammar School, Leicestershire, and on leaving was employed for a time in the Goods Office at Rugby Station, and later at Coventry London and North Western Railway Station. He enlisted on the 14th February 1916 and served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the 8th July 1916 until he was killed in action at Beaumont Hamel, France on or between the 20th and 21st July 1917. He was buried near where he fell. Thomas was unmarried.