Edward Percy Smith
He was a clerk for Whitcombe & Tombs, a stationery firm in Wellington.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Edward Percy Smith was born on 24th October 1894 and was baptised on 16th December 1894 at St Ann's Nottingham, he was the son of Harry an upholsterer and Harriet Smith née Clarke and the brother of William and Albert and Edward Smith
His father Harry was born in 1860 at Nottingham his mother Harriett Clarke was born in 1854 also at Nottingham, they were married on 27th June 1887 at St Ann's Nottingham.
In 1901 they lived at 97 Union Road St Ann's Nottingham (then in the parish of St Mark). Harry and Harriet later lived at 78 Washington Avenue Brooklyn Wellington New Zealand.
At the end of 1901 Harry and Harriet and their three sons emigrated to New Zealand on the “Aotea”.
The family set up home initially at 32 Taranaki Street, but by the 1905/1906 Census their address was Ohiro Road. By 1911 the family had moved to 78 Washington Avenue, close to Brooklyn School However, the boys attended Te Aro School, and could make their way down the hill, perhaps through Central Park, to school at the southern end of The Terrace. They were all enrolled at Te Aro School from January 1902. Edward was at primary school for 5 years, leaving in December 1907 to go on to the Technical School for 1908-1909
When Edward left school, he worked as a clerk for Whitcombe & Tombs, a stationery firm in Wellington.
Private Edward Percy Smith joined the 5th Wellington Regiment on 30 May 1916 and transferred to the 3rd Battalion Canterbury Regiment on 27 June 1916. He was given the regimental number 27971. Edward's 'apparent age' was 21 years 7 months; he was 5 feet 8 inches tall; weighed 134 pounds; had fair complexion and hair and blue eyes.
Edward had a short training period at Trentham where he received two vaccinations before leaving for England on board the “Willochra” on 16 October 1916 in HMNZT 66. He received a third vaccination on board ship. On arrival at Devonport in southern England on 29 December 1916, the men went to Sling Camp on the Salisbury Plains for more training. Edward was there until March of 1917 when he was posted to 2nd Company at Codford before leaving for France on 28 May 1917, almost exactly 12 months after enlisting.
Edward fought for only 5 months, but the period June-October 1917 covers the time when there was intense fighting on the Western Front in a series of battles for the village of Passchendaele on the border between France and Belgium.
He was killed in action on 6th October 1917, having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Research conducted by Ann Walker with supplementary input by Barbara Mulligan from the War Memorials Wellington website.
Additional reseach and information Peter Gillings
Photo of Edward Percy Smith
Tyne Cot Memorial