Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Thomas Smith, a publican, born in the July quarter of 1850 in Nottinghamshire and baptised on the 11th December 1850 in St. John’s Church, Nottingham (son of Abraham Smith, 1818 and Betsy Silman, 1819) and his wife Mary Frances Smith (nee Barber, married 1888 in Malta), born in the January quarter of 1861 in Moulton, Northamptonshire (daughter of Richard Barber, 1833 and Mary Parsons, 1838). Percy was born in the January quarter of 1899 in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, his siblings were, Francis, a general labourer, born 1885 in Middlesex, Isaac, born 1887, Harry, born 1890, Arthur, born 1894 and Frederic, born 1896, the latter four siblings were all born in Malta, in March 1901 the family home was at the Moreteyne Arms, Marston Moretaine, Ampthill, Bedfordshire.
Percy’s mother died aged 41 years in the January quarter of 1902 in Ampthill, his father married his late wife’s younger sister, Kate Elizabeth Barber on the 3rd February 1903 in Ampthill.
Percy’s father died aged 54 years on the 15th August 1904 in Marston Moretaine.
In April 1911 Percy was a schoolboy and was employed as an errand boy and was residing in the family home at 17, Heath Street, Great Bowden, Leicestershire, together with his widowed stepmother Kate Elizabeth Smith, born 1871 in East Haddon, Northamptonshire and his sibling, Arthur, a typefounder, also residing with the family was Percy’s widowed maternal grandfather, Richard Barber, an old age pensioner, born 1832 in Moulton.
Percy’s older brother Arthur fell in action on the 18th April 1918.
Percy’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 Market Harborough into the Territorial Force. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 4034.
Posted. To 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 28/10/15.
Admitted. To 6th General Hospital, Rouen, France. Date not known.
Died of pneumonia in the 6th General Hospital, Rouen, France. 22/4/16.
Buried in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. Headstone inscription. “Rest in peace he was too dearly loved to ever be forgotten.”
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Percy nominated his widowed stepmother, Kate Elizabeth Smith as his sole legatee.
On Friday May 5th 1916, The Midland Mail, established as “Market Harborough Mail.” published the following article on page 5 under the heading. - DEATH OF PTE. PERCY SMITH, OF MARKET HARBOROUGH.
We deeply regret to have to report that Pte. Percy Smith, whose mother resides in Newcombe-street, Market Harborough, has died in hospital in France. He was quite a lad when he responded nobly to the call of his country and joined the 2/5th Leicester’s. He had been in France for some time when he was attacked by pneumonia, to which he eventually succumbed. He was buried on Easter Monday. Prior to enlisting he was employed in Messrs R. and W. H. Symington and Co.’s offices. A nice, quiet lad, he was much liked by everybody who knew him, and the news of his death has been received with feelings of great sorrow by many outside his own relations. Pte. Smith’s only brother is at the front with the Leicestershire Yeomanry.
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