Samuel Smith

CWGC: 'Only son of the late William and Elizabeth Smith. Born at Nottingham.'

Elizabeth G. Smith was born in Coventry. Samuel, who was born in Nottingham about 1892, had at least four sisters: Nelly/Nellie b. Coventry abt 1879, Maggie/Margaret b. Coventry abt. 1885, Laurie/Laura b. Nottingham abt. 1888 and Olive/Olivia b. Nottingham abt. 1890

In 1891, Elizabeth (36), a charwoman, was living on Mellor Terrace, Raleigh Street, Nottingham, with her four daughters, Nelly (12), Mary (?Margaret/Maggie) (6), Laura (3) and Olivia (1). Elizabeth was married but recorded as the head of household.

In 1901 Elizabeth, who was still head of household and working as a charwoman, was living at 3 Mellor Terrace. Four of her five children were in the home on the night of the census: Maggie (?Mary) (16) and Laurie (13) who were both cotton bobbin winders, Olive (11) and Samuel (9).

His widowed mother, Elizabeth, a charwoman, was living alone at 18c Fleet Street, Coventry, in 1911. Neither Samuel nor his sisters have yet been traced on the 1911 Census.

The Registers of Soldiers' Effects records that Samuel's legatees were his mother and three married sisters: Margaret (?Hutcinson), Nellie and Laura (?Leamen).

On his service record his mothers address is givn as 9 Filey Cottages, Ireton Street, Portland Road, Nottingham.

The personal inscription on the CWGC headstone includes the words 'from his two sisters', suggesting there were only two surviving siblings.