Charles William Smith
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Charles William Smith was born in 1894 at Barrow on Soar, he was the son of Edward a lime stone quarry man and Agnes Smith née Pearson of Church St., Barrow-on-Soar, Loughborough. His father Edward was born in 1853 at Newark and his mother Agnes Pearson was born in 1857 at Barrow on Soar, they were married in 1876 at Barrow on Soar and went on to have the following children, John b1877, Sarah b1887, Caroline b1889 and Charles William b1894, all were born at Barrow on Soar. In the 1911 census he and his parents are living at Church Street, Barrow on Soar and are shown as Edward 58 yrs a lime stone quarryman, he is living with his wife Agnes 54 yrs and their son Charles 17 yrs a gardener.
Sergeant Charles William Smith enlisted in June 1915 at Newark and served with the 17th battalion Sherwood Foresters he was killed in action on 1st August 1916 and is buried at Gorre British and Indian Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
His commanding officer wrote to his mother stating : " He was buried in the English Cemetery a few miles behind the lines where several of his comrades lie and his grave will be marked by a cross giving his name and regiment. Since your son joined my platoon a few weeks ago I found him always of great assistance and knew that whatever duty he was called upon to do it would always be well done. Words of mine can, I know be of very little help to you in your great loss but I can assure you that we all, officers and men alike will miss your son sorely and that we share with you in your grief and trust you may find consolation in the thought that your son has given his life for a great cause and in the execution of his duty. We wish to express our deepest sympathy with his parents and friends in their great bereavement" Notification of his death was recorded in the Newark Advertiser dated 9th August 1916 :- Newark Policeman Killed – From Barrow on Soar, he joined the borough Police in March 1914 having previously served with the Metropolitan Police. Enlisted June 1915, a Sergeant in the Welbeck Rangers (17th Sherwood Foresters). His brother lives in Farndon.
