Herbert Ralph Smith

Herbert Ralph, known as Ralph, was the son of George and Annie Smith. According to the 1911 Census completed by Ralph's father, his parents had been married for 17 years and had had three children; three children were named on the 1911 Census: May (b. 1895, J/A/S Boston), Ralph (b. 1896, J/A/S Boston) and Horace. The latter may be William Horace whose birth was registered in 1902 (J/A/S Boston) and who according to a passenger list in 1957 (Canadian Pacific Line, HMS Empress of England, Montreal to Liverpool) was born on 17 July 1902. In 1901 George (30, b. Wigtoft, Lincolnshire), a gardener, and Annie (27, b. Holland, Lincolnshire) were living at Wyburton West Hill, Boston, Lincolnshire, with their two children May (5) and Ralph (4). Also in the household were four male boarders. By 1911 the family was living at White Bridge, Skirbeck Quarter, Boston. George was still working as a gardener but Annie was shopkeeper, probably on the premises as the census described her work place as 'at home'. May (15) was a shop assistant so may have been assisting her mother, Ralph (14) was an office clerk and Horace (8) was still at school. An item in the Boston Guardian at the time of Ralph's death in 1917 said that his parents were then living in Grimsby, and this was where Ralph enlisted. However, according to one military record his residence was in Nottingham and Ralph's parents did eventually move to Nottingham as the CWGC record gives their address as 29 Addison Street, Nottingham. Ralph's sister, May, died on 6 November 1924 aged 29 and was buried in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery.