Charles Smith
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Charles Smith was born in 1892 at Ilkeston and was the son of Charles a beer house keeper and Emily Smith née Pearson his parents kept the Phoenix Inn Denman Street Radford Nottingham. His father Charles was born in 1871 at Sleaford, Lincolnshire, his mother Emily Pearson was born in 1868 at Radford, they were married 1890, their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration district. They went on to have 7 children, sadly two died in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were , Charles b1892 Ilkeston, John Harry b1894 Basford, Frederick b1896 Radford, Robert Copeland b1899 Radford and Bernard b1907 Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family are living at The Phoenix Inn, Denman Street, Nottingham and are shown as Charles 40 yrs a beer house keeper, he is living with hi s wife Emily 43 yrs and their children, Charles 19 yrs a french polisher, John Harry 17 yrs a carrriage hammer, Frederick 15 yrs a picture framers assistant, Robert Copeland 12 yrs a scholar and Bernard 4 yrs of age. His brother, 13646 Private Frederick Smith, 12th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers, was also killed on 25 September 1915 (Loos Memorial).This website has identified seven days during the Great War on which two Nottinghamshire brothers were killed. Four of the local pairs discovered so far were killed fighting with the same unit. The Smith family tragedy highlights the downside of siblings serving in the same battalion.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial (Panel 20 to 22).
In memoriam published 16th October 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “SMITH. — Private Charles Smith, aged 24, and Private Frederick Smith, aged 19, Northumberland Fusiliers, missing since September 25th, 1915, now officially reported killed, the Phoenix Inn, Denman-street, Nottingham. Sadly missed by all. — Mother, father, Harry, Lily, Bob, and Bernard. “SMlTH. — Killed in action, September. 1915, Private Charles Smith and Private Fred Smith, Northumberland Fusiliers. At our fireside, sad and lonely, oft times will the bosom swell, at remembrance of the story, how our noble brothers fell. — Will never be forgotten by sorrowing brother Harry and wife and niece. “SMlTH.— Reported missing September 25th, 1915, now reported killed, Private Charles Smith, Northumberland Fusiliers, the dearly-loved husband of Florence Smith, 14, Raleigh-street. He nobly answered duty's call, his life he gave for one and all, but the unknown grave is the bitterest blow, none but an aching heart can know. — From his sorrowing wife. “SMlTH. — Reported missing September 25th, 1915, now reported killed. Private C. Smith, Northumberland Fusiliers. His heart was true his spirit brave, his resting place a soldier's grave. — From his sorrowing mother, father, sisters, and brothers-in-law, 14, Raleigh-street, Nottingham.” Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
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