Harold Leslie Smith
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was born about 1897 the son of Edward Charles and Katherine Smith. In 1881 Edward (22), a bank clerk, and Katherine (20) were living in Long Eaton. They were to have six children of whom only four were still living at the time of the 1911 census. Five children were named on the three census between 1891 and 1911: Eveline C, Cecil Edward Hale, Mabel B., Hilda Christina and Harold Leslie; all the children were born in Long Eaton. It is probable that Mabel B was the second of their children to die young. By 1891 Edward had been promoted to bank manager, probably at a branch in Long Eaton as the family was living at 18 Main Street, Long Eaton. They had three children, Eveline (9), Cecil (8) and Mabel (4) and employed a general servant, Annie B Thompson (17). By 1901 the family had moved to Nottingham and were living at 54 Bridgford Road, West Bridgford. Edward was now a bank cashier. There were three children living at home on the night of the census; Eveline, Hilda (6) and Harold (4). Also in the household was Edward's unmarried sister, Leonora (52). By the time of the 1911 census they had moved to 33 Leonard Avenue, Sherwood, and only two of their children were at home on the night of the census; Hilda, a pupil at a commercial college, and Harold, who was still at school. They employed a servant, Rose Morton (17). The same census records that Harold's older brother, Cecil, a bank clerk, was married (Mary) and living in Coventry. By the time of Harold's death in 1915 his parents were living at 8 Waterloo Road, Nottingham. Harold's father died on 13 March 1944; his executors were his surviving son, Cecil, a bank manager, and Arthur William Gane Hall, a cotton goods merchant, who was probably a son-in-law as Arthur had married a woman with the surname 'Smith' in 1917. At the time of his death Edward was living at 6 All Saints Street, Nottingham. It is possible that his wife, Katherine, survived to 1957 as there is a record of probate being awarded to Arthur William Gane Hall for a Katherine Smith, a widow living at 62 Mapperley Road, Nottingham, who died on 5 April 1957.
Enlisting on 7th September 1914, he landed in France on 25th February 1915 and was wounded, a gunshot wound to the face, on 19th July 1915. He was killed in action a casualty of the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on 14th October 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial (Panel 87 to 89). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged), 1 December 1915: 'Smith. Killed in action on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on October 14th, Private Harold Leslie Smith, 1/8th Sherwood Foresters, son of Lieutenant EC Smith, 7th Sherwood Foresters, of 8 Waterloo Road, Nottingham.' Probate: Smith. Edward Charles of 6 All Saints-street Nottingham died 13 March 1944 at The City Hospital Nottingham Probate Nottingham 6 May to Cecil Edward Hale Smith bank manager and Arthur William Gane Hall cotton goods merchant. Effects £751 12s. 5d. Probate: Smith. Katherine of 62 Mapperley-road Nottingham widow died 5 April 1957 at Sherwood Hospital Nottingham Probate Nottingham 16 May to Arthur William Gane Hall merchant. Effects £3517 14s. 10d.
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