Charles William Lancashire Smith
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- Military History
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Charles Wiliam Lancashire was the son of Charles and Sarah Ann Smith (nee Lancashire) who were married in 1896 (J/A/S Nottingham). According to the information provided on the 1911 Census, Charles and Sarah had been married for 16 years and had had three children of whom only two survived: Charles b. abt 1895 and Lily b. 1909. Both children were born in Nottingham as were their parents. In 1901 Charles (34), a scaffolder's labourer, and Sarah (25) were living at 1 Star Court, St James' Street, Nottingham, with their son Charles (6). By 1911 the family was living at 47 Bathley Street, Meadows, Nottingham. Charles (snr) was working as a joiner's labourer. He and Sarah now had two children, Charles (16) a tailor, and Lily (2). Also in the household was a boarder, Emily Smith (40).
Charles died of wounds in No. 5 Casualty Clearing Station, France, and was buried in Bray Military Cemetery, Somme (grave ref. II.E.54), Bray Military Cemetery: 'The cemetery was begun in April 1916 by fighting units and field ambulances. In September 1916, the front line having been pushed further east, it was used by the XIV Corps Main Dressing Station and in 1917, the 5th, 38th and 48th Casualty Clearing Stations came forward and used it. In March 1918, the village and the cemetery fell into German hands, but were retaken by the 40th Australian Battalion on 24 August, and during the next few days the cemetery was used again. After the Armistice graves were brought in to Plot I, Rows A1 and B1, and Plot II, Rows J and K, from the battlefields immediately north and south of the village and in 1924, further isolated graves (Plot III) were brought in. Bray Military Cemetery now contains 874 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 127 of which are unidentified. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.' (Source: CWGC website)
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother, Sarah Ann Smith, was his sole legatee.
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