Edward Smith
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Edward Henry Smith was born in 1884 at Radford and was the son of James and Emma Smith and the brother of John of 24 Garden Street, New Radford, Nottingham. In the 1891 census the family are living at 2 Forster Avenue, Radford and are shown as James 39 yrs a coal miner, he is living with his wife Emma 43yrs and their children John 14 yrs a bottler at brewery and Edward Henry 7 yrs. In the 1901 census Edward Henry is 17 yrs of age, single and a lace hand, he is living with his widowed father James 49 yrs a coal hewer at 16 Hyson Street, Radford Road, Nottingham. Edward married his wife Charlotte Ward also born 1884 in Radford, on 23rd December 1906 in the parish church at New Radford, Nottingham she brought to the marriage a daughter Suie Doris Ward b1902 Radford. In 1911 they lived at 19 Argyle Street Boden Street Radford Nottingham and are shown as Edward 27 yrs head of the family a newsporter, he is living with his wife Charlotte and her daughter Suie Doris Ward 9 yrs
Edward Smith enlisted at Derby on 10th October 1902 he gave his age as 19 yrs and 4 months, he gave his occupation as that of a labourer and his next of kin as his father James Smith of 24 Garden Street, Radford, Nottingham. He enlisted for 3 years with the colours and 9 years in the reserves. He served with the Sherwood Foresters Regiment and saw service at home from 9th October 1902 until 4th March 1904 and was then posted to Hong Kong where he served until 30th January 1906 when he returned home. He was mobilised for war on 5th August 1914 at Derby and landed in France on 24th September 1914 as a reinforcement to the 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment. He was taken prisoner on 20th October 1914, along with more than 500 Sherwood Foresters. Sadly, he died on 22nd October 1918, still a prisoner, he died of inflammation of the lungs and grippe at Schladen and he is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel.
Obituary published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated ' 11th March 1919 : - “SMITH. - On October 22nd, 1918, Edward Smith, after four years prisoner, at Hameln-Weser, Germany, died of [illegible – influenza?], beloved husband of Charlotte Smith, 40 Mitchell-street. Shattered hopes. - From sorrowing wife and daughter, mother, mother and father-in-law.” above obituary courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 In his army service record Edward gives details of his next of kin , his father is James and his mother is Elizabeth and his brother is John, all of whom were living at 24 Garden Street, New Radford, Nottingham (it should be noted that his mother Elizabeth may be a second marriage as by the 1901 census his father James is shown as a widow and it is uncertain when the note regarding his family was added to his army service record)
