Robert Henry Smedley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Robert Henry Smedley was born in 1881 at Newark and was the son of William John a publican and Sarah Sedley née Swinburn of Golden Fleece, Lombard Street, Newark. His father William was born in 1847 at Newark and his mother Sarah Swinburn was born in 1847 also in Newark, they were married in 1876 at Newark and had the following children, William John b1877, Robert Henry b1881 and Elizabeth born 1894, all were born in Newark. In the 1911 census Robert Henry Smedley is living at 31 Windsor Road, Southport he is shown as a boarder 30 yrs single and a hairdresser, he is living with Robert Rimmer 73 yrs a retired builder and his family. His probate was proven on 5th July 1918 in Nottingham, it shows him as Robert Henry Smedley of 11 Denstone Road, Nottingham Pte in H.M.Army died on 9th May 1918 in France, his effects of £205 19 shillings and 1 pence were left to Emma Smedley wife of William John Smedley
Private Robert Henry Smedley enlisted at Seaforth, Lancashire whilst residing at Southport. He served with the 1/10th Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment, he died of wounds on 9th May 1918 and is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Second son of the late Mr William Smedley, Golden Fleece, Lombard Street, Newark and Mrs Smedley, now of Nottingham. He learnt his trade as a hairdresser with his uncle, the late Robert Smedley, Middlegate and afterwards devoted himself exclusively to ladies’ coiffeur. In connection with which he held a good position at Stockport for a long period. He joined up voluntarily and after a course of training went out to France where he was gassed and invalided for some time. On recovering returned to the scene of hostilities, following which he was wounded in the right arm and left hip. Pneumonia supervened and he passed away on the 9th. His eldest brother, William, is at present with the colours in France.
