Oscar Vincent Smith
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Oscar Vincent Smith was born in 1889 the son of William Smith, a coal miner, and Lucy Araminta Smith (née Smith). His father was born in 1866 at Bilborough, his mother in 1867 at Barrowby, Derbyshire. They were married in 1888 at Nottingham and went on to have 5 children, one of whom died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were Oscar Vincent b.1889 Violet Blanche Bertha b.1892, William Asher b.1895 and George Edgar b.1904. All were born in Nottingham. In 1911, the family lived at 39, Forster Street, Radford, Nottingham. Violet Blanche Bertha was a box maker, William Asher an errand boy and George Edgar a scholar. Oscar was serving in Aden at the time as a gunner. Oscar married his wife Ellen Reynolds (born 25th March 1893) in 1913 in Nottingham they lived at 82 Garfield Road, Radford, Nottingham, following his death his widow was awarded a pension of 13 shillings and 9 pence which commenced on 18th March 1918.
Gunner Oscar Vincent Smith enlisted at Nottingham, he served in the 5th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery. He landed in France on 25th September 1914 he was killed in action on 8th September 1917 and was buried in Mendingham Cemetery, Belgium Grave Reference: VII.F.8
His brother in law Harry Woolley served with 1/7th Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action aged 23 during the costly attack on the Hohernzollern Redoubt on 13th October 1915. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Dud Corner. In memoriam published 8th September 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post ;- “SMITH. – In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Oscar, who fell in action September 8th, 1917. To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die. – Mother, father, sister, and brothers.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
