Henry Thomas Smedley Lacey
In 1911, he was a box scorer.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Henry Thomas Smedley Lacey was born in 1894 at Umballa, India he was the son of the late Henry and Annie Lacey née Quinn and the brother of Sarah, Edward Francis Patrick , Gertrude Mary, Charles William and Terrance Joseph Lacey.
His father was born in 1861 at Nottingham, he died in 1906 aged 45 yrs, his mother Annie Quinn was born in 1862 at Swynford, County Mayo, Ireland they were married and had 10 children, sadly 2 died in infancy or earley childhood.
In the 1911 census the family lived at 7, Rancliffe Terrace, Pym Street, Notttingham, his widowed mother 49 yrs is living with her childen, Sarah 26 yrs a lace mender, Edwin 20 yrs a stableboy, Gertrude Mary 18 yrs a net folder, Henry 17 yrs a box scorer, Catherine 15 yrs an erand girl, Charles William 12 yrs, Annie Christina 10 yrs and Terrance Joseph 8 yrs.
The family later lived at 177, Dame Agnes Street, St Ann's Nottingham.
Corporal Henry Lacey enlisted on 10th December 1909 at Nottingham giving his age as 18 years and 2 months, he was a a fitter, posted into the 4th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment. He was promoted to Corporal on 27th March 1915 and then posted to the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment and went to Gallipoli on 18th September 1915.
He went to France on 28th June 1916 and was posted to the 17th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment, on 7th September 1916. He was posted to the 16th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment, on 8th February 1918 and was killed in action, on 21st March 1918, whilst holding the line near Sorrell Wood/Longeuval, France on the opening day of the German Spring Offensive or (Kaiserschlact)
Commemorated : Pozieres Memorial, France. Panel 52 to 54.
His brother Private Edward Francis Patrick Lacey enlisted on 6th September 1914 at Nottingham he served with B Company 1/7th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He went to France on 28th February 1915, was wounded on 27th July 1915. and was killed in action, on 1st July 1916, aged 24, during the attack on Gommecourt, France, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Buried: Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, France. Plot 1. Row L. Grave 35.
additional research and information Peter Gillings
Photo of Henry Lacey
Pozieres Memorial, France, courtesy of the cwgc