Edward Smith

Edward Smith enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) at Nottingham on 10 October 1902 on a 12 year engagement (3 years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve).

He was aged 19 years 4 months, occupation labourer. He and his next of kin lived at 24 Garden Street, Radford, Nottingham.

He served at home from 9 October 1902 to 4 March 1904 and was then posted to Hong Kong, 5 May 1904-6 December 1904. Between 7 December and 29 January 1906 he was serving in the' [-] Settlements' then in the UK from 30 January 1906. He served at home from 1906 to 7 September 1914, including Army Reserve time (8y 22d), and then with BEF France from 8 September 1914.

He was mobilised on 5 August 1914, was posted to Derby, then in September 1914 was posted to BEF France as reinforcement to the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters.

Edward was taken prisoner on 20 October 1914 together with more than 500 Sherwood Foresters. He died of inflammation of the lungs and grippe on 22 October 1918 while a prisoner at Schladen in Lower Saxony. He had served in the Army/Army Reserve for 16 years 14 days.

He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany (grave ref. V. F. 16). The history of the Cemetery suggests his grave was brought in after the war.

CWGC History of Niederzweheren Cemetery (extract): Kassel is in the centre of Germany about 165km from the city of Hannover. 'The cemetery was begun by the Germans in 1915 for the burial of prisoners of war who died at the local camp. During the war almost 3,000 Allied soldiers and civilians, including French, Russian and Commonwealth, were buried there. In 1922-23 it was decided that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who had died all over Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries. Niederzwehren was one of those chosen and in the following four years, more than 1,500 graves were brought into the cemetery from 190 burial grounds in Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse and Saxony.' (www.cwgc.org)

Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 11 March 1919: 'Smith. On October 22nd, 1918, Edward Smith, after four years prisoner, at Hameln-Weser, Germany, died of [illegible – influenza?], beloved husband of Charlotte Smith, 40 Mitchell-street. Shattered hopes. From sorrowing wife and daughter, mother, mother and father-in-law.'

Above courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918

Edward's Army service record includes details of his next of kin: father James, mother Elizabeth and brother John, all of whom were living at 24 Garden Street, New Radford, Nottingham. However, at the time of the 1901 census his father James was a widower and Elizabeth may have been his father's second wife. It is uncertain when these details of his next of kin were entered on the service record. His service documents also records the details of his marriage to Charlotte Ward in 1906; the marriage certificate noted that Edward's father, James, was 'deceased'.

From Army service record: 'Certificate of Death No. 54. Schladen, 23 October 1918. The Commanding Officer of the Guard of the Sugar Factory, Willi Elebrecht, L/Cpl. Of the 4th Comp. Militia Support Battn. S/42, resident at Goslar appeared to-day before the undersigned Registrar and notified that Edward Smith, British Prisoner of War. Aged 23 years. Catholic religion. Resident at: place of residence unknown. Born at: place of birth unknown, married, name of wife unknown, names of parents unknown. Died at Schladen, house No. 188 on the 22nd October 1918 at 6.30pm. The Notifier states that he certifies this death from his own personal knowledge. Read our-sic, approved and signed, Willi Elebrecht. The Registrar. Signed for: Reinecke.'

War Office, 21 February 1919: 'The Officer in Charge of Infantry Record Office Litchfield, is informed that a report has been received from the British Help Committee {illeg] of the death of 8468 Pte E Smith Sherwood Foresters on 22 October 1918 at Schladen (-) from inflammation of lungs and grippe. Buried [no details]. This report has been accepted as sufficient evidence for official purposes. The next-of-kin should therefore be notified accordingly and the usual non-effective documents prepared. (The place of burial and the place, cause, the date of death should be communicated to the next-of-kin, when these particulars are furnished).'

The pension record card shows his dependent as Charlotte Smith of 40 Mitchell Street, Radford, Nottingham. A pension of 13/9d a week for herself was payable with effect from 1 September 1919.

Probate: Smith Edward 40 Mitchell St New Radford Nottingham private in HM Army died 22 October 1918 in Germany Administration Nottingham 11 November to Charlotte Smith widow. Effects £185 18s. 6d.

Further research, record revised, Aug. 2026