Fred Smedley
Fred Smedley was employed by Boots as a bottler.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Fred was the second son of George Smedley and his second wife, Rebecca (née Lynes).
His father was born in Whysall, Nottinghamshire, in about 1855 and was a wheelwright. He married Martha Lynes, who was born in Willoughby, Nottinghamshire, in 1878 (reg. OND Loughborough) by whom he had three children: William b. 1880 (JAS), Annie Elizabeth birth reg. 1882 (JFM) and John b. 1884 d. 1890 (JFM).
George, Martha and their first child, William, were living at 36 Duncombe Street, Nottingham, in 1881. Also in the household was a lodger, Thomas Bailey (b. Willoughby), a carpenter. Their daughter Annie was born the following year and their son John in 1884.
Martha died in 1889, aged 32, and her son John died the following year.
George was living at 13 Mabel Street, Nottingham, in 1891. Also in the household were his two surviving children, William and Annie who were school age, and his widowed mother, Mary Smedley.
George married his late wife's sister, Rebecca Lynes (b. 1859), in 1892 (JFM Nottingham). They had four children, one of whom died in infancy: Arthur b. 1892 (OND) d. 1893 (JFM), Fred birth reg. 1894 (JFM), Alice b. June 1896 and Ernest b. 1899.
George and Rebecca were living at 13 Mabel Street in 1901 with the five surviving children: William, a builders' clerk, Annie a dressmaker's apprentice, Fred, Alice and Ernest.
George eldest son, William, moved to Birmingham sometime after 1901. He died in a bathing accident at Skegness on 28 July 1908. (See 'Extra information).
The family continued to live at 13 Mabel Street and George's four children were still living at home in 1911: Annie, a skirt hand, Fred, a 'mixer' [probably bottler, Boots the Chemist], Alice, an errand girl at a pinafore warehouse, and Ernest, who was school age.
Fred was killed in action on 28 December 1916. His father died on 24 August 1918 aged 54.
Rebecca was still at 13 Mabel Street in 1921. Also in the home were Annie, a tailoress/skirt maker (Dixon & Parker outfitters), Alice a ladies neckwear cutter (blouse and ladies neckwear manufacturer) and Ernest, a laboratory hand (Boots Chemist, Island Street).
Alice married Albert Ernest Feast at Nottingham St Saviour on 6 October 1923. Albert had served with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (65481 Private) in the war. He had enlisted on 18 February 1917 and was discharged (sickness) on 25 January 1919; he qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living at 34 Bruce Grove, Nottingham; Albert was a caretaker at the Methodist Mission. The couple later moved to Varden Avenue, Derby Road, Nottingham, where Albert died in November 1965. Alice died in 1976 aged 80.
Ernest married Annie Gwendoline Bellamy (b. 1902) in 1926 and in 1939 they were living at 3a Marlborough Road, Beeston, with their daughter Jean (b. 1927), his mother Rebecca, described on the Register as 'incapacitated', and his half-sister, Annie, a tailoress. The record of one member of the household remains closed but was probably that of Dylys (b. 1935). Ernest and Annie's second daughter.
Rebecca died on 20 October 1946 aged 87. Her step-daughter, Annie, died on 4 May 1951 and her son Ernest in June 1988; his wife Anne had died in 1980 and he was survived by his two daughters.
Fred Smedley joined the Territorial Force (1/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters) on a four year engagement (service in the UK) on 16 January 1912. He was aged 17y 11m and employed by Boots Co. as a bottler. Home address 13 Mabel Street, Waterway Street, Nottingham. He nominated his father, George, of the same address, as his next of kin.
He attended annual camp at Wetherby, 4 August 1912-18 August 1912. Embodied service (3/7th Battalion) 5 August 1914 and served with BEF France from 28 February 1915. However, he developed a hernia and was admitted to 17th Casualty Clearing Station on 22 August 1915 and then to the Allied Forces General Hospital, Boulogne, on 24 August. He was medically evacuated to the UK (HS St. David) on 6 September and was probably treated at Headington.
Fred transferred from 3/7th Battalion to 1/7th Battalion on 28 March 1916 and embarked at Southampton for France on 29 March 1916, reporting to Division Base Depot the following day. He was appointed unpaid lance-corporal on 24 March 1916, then to unpaid lance corporal on 19 May. Fred was promoted acting corporal on 2 July 1916 then substantive corporal on the same date as one of the few survivors of the attack on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Fred was killed during a raid on the British trenches during the early hours of 28 December 1916. He is buried in Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, France (grave ref I.H.33).
Service record: Service: Home 1912 -27 Feb. 1915: 3y 143d. BEF France 28 Feb. 1915-5 Sept. 1915: 190d. Home 6 Sept. 1915-28 March 1916: 204d. France 29 March 1916-28 Dec. 1916: 275d.
Total service towards engagement in Territorial Force to 28 December 1916: 4y 346d.
He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave, headstone inscription: In loving memory of William Smedley who was suddenly called to rest July 28th 1908 aged 28 years. 'Blessed are the dead which died in the Lord.' Also of Cpl. Fred Smedley killed in action Dec 28th, 1916 in his 23rd year. 'Thy will be done.' Also George Smedley father of the above and beloved husband of Rebecca Smedley who died Aug. 24th 1918, aged 54 years. 'His end was peaceful.' Also of the above Rebecca Smedley who died Oct. 20th 1946, in her 88th year. 'Sweet rest in Heaven.' Also Annie Elizabeth Smedley who died May 4th 1951 aged 69 years. Faithful and true.
Nottingham Evening Post, 29 July 1908 (extract): ‘Nottingham Man’s Death At Skegness. The Inquest. Witness Commended For His Gallantry. At the Skegness Police Station last evneing, Dr FJ Walker, the Coroner for the district, held an inquiry into the death of William Smedley who was drowned while bathing, yesterday morning. Mr Smedley’s Birmingham address was Highfield-road, Saltley. On Friday evening last he entered upon his annual holidays, and proceeded first to his home in Nottingham, when he and a party of friends went to Skegness on Saturday. Miss Louisa Twigg, the deceased’s fiance, identified the body. Deceased was 28 years of age. She last saw him at 11 o’clock the previous evening. Mr William Constable, a visitor to Skegness, state dthat he was going down to Scarboroughpavenue that morning when he overtook the deceased, and thy entred th sea together opposite the Sea View Hotel … Neither of them could swim, and deceased had with him a pair of floating wings … When about 15 yards from dry land [the witness] heard a call and, turning, saw deceased waving his arms about but thought he was trying the over-arm stroke. Again hearing a call he went back to sea if anything was wrong, and saw decased in difficulties about 15 years away, out if his (witness’s) depth. Witness went for help, and informed Mackay, who swam to the deceaed. Mr William Mackay, a Post-office clerk, of Skegness … immediately swam to where deceased was struggling in the water … The drowning man clutched hold of witness round the arms and legs, rendering him incapable of action … deceased being much stronger than witness he was unable to effect his purpose and both of them sank several times …’ The tide was receding and as the two were getting further from the shore the witness left deceased to swim to shore where he and the other witness ‘endeavoured to launcn a boat, but was unsuccessful‘ … ‘A rope was obtained, and with another gentleman witness again went out, but saw nothing of deceased.’ A coastguardsman who was on duty was alerted and also entered the water but ‘could see no signs of anyone in trouble.’ The body was found two hours later. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Death from misadventure whilst bathing’, and ‘drew special attention to the admirable efforts by Mackay to rescue the deceased.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
CWGC Additional information: Son of George and Rebecca Smedley, of 13, Mabel St., Meadows, Nottingham.
CWGC headstone, personal inscription: 'To my dear Fred ever in my thoughts Mother.
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 29 December 1919: 'Smedley. In loving memory of our dear nephew and cousin, Cpl. Fred Smedley, 7th Sherwood Foresters, killed in action December 28th, 1916. Still remembered. Aunt, uncle, and cousins, Lewis-street.'
Above courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Memo from the War Office to OIC TF Litchfield, 24 April 1917 reference personal property to be returned to Mrs Rebecca Smedley, 13 Mabel Street, Nottingham. The property comprised: letter, cards, photos., pipe, pouch, pocket case, 2 diaries, 2 religious books, cig. case, purse, metal watch, locket, photograph, case.
Fred's mother, Rebecca, signed the receipt for his British War Medal on 10 February 1921 and for the 1914-15 Star on 23 March 1921. E. Smedley signed the receipt for the Victory Medal on 28 August 1921.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 22 October 1946: ‘Smedley. On October 20th, at 16, Loughborough-terrace, Meadows, Rebecca, aged 87, passed peacefully away, widow of George and dear mother of Annie, Ernest, Alice [Frost], Peggy and Ernest [?Albert Ernest Frost], Grandma of Jean and Dylys.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research RF (May 2026) and original record updated.
Fred Smedley
Buried in Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France. Courtesy of Murray Biddle
Fred Smedley
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone. Photograph Rachel Farrand (May 2026)
Photo of Fred Smedley
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone. Photograph Rachel Farrand (May 2026)