John Henry Smith
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Henry was the son of John and Rebecca Smith (née Flecknell). His father John was born in about 1848 in Rugeley, Staffordshire, and his mother Rebecca Flecknell was born in Basford in 1850 (reg. J/F/M). They were married at Carrington St John the Evangelist on 25 December 1870 and had ten children, the first five children were born in Basford and the younger five in Hyson Green: William birth registered 1875 (J/F/M); Maria Tennant b. 1877; Florence b. 1879; John Henry b. 1882; George Arthur b. 14 April 1884; Wallace b. 1885; Charles Flecknell b. 1887; Harold b. 1889; Tennant b. 1891 and Lily b. 1893. In 1881 John, a brass fitter (brass foundry), and Rebecca, a cotton winder, were living at 32 Chelsea Street, Basford. Two of their three children were in the home on the night of the census, Maria (4) and Florence (1). By 1891 they had moved to Goodall Street, Radford, where on the night of the census both parents and their then eight children were at home: John, a steam gauge maker, Rebecca, William (16) a steam gauge maker, Maria, Florence, John (9), George (7), Wallace (6), Charles (4) and Harold (1). Also in the household were two of John's cousins, Tom Edmunds (22) a brass finisher, and Harry Edmunds (20) a lace designer and draughtsman. John and Rebecca had moved to 19 Beaconsfield Street, Hyson Green, by 1901. In the home on the night of the census were all their children apart from William: Florence hosiery machinist, John a bobbin and carriage maker, George a hosiery maker, Wallace, Charles, Harold, Tennant (9), Lily (7) together with Maria (Scrivens) and her child Florence (under 1 year). Maria had married William Frederick Scrivens at Hyson Green St Paul's on 30 September 1900 and her husband, a striker at Basford Gas Works, was recorded on the census at Hudson's Yard, Spondon Street, Nottingham. The family home was still at 19 Beaconsfield Street in 1911. Only John, a brass finishing labourer, Rebecca, Harold, a lace maker, Lily who was assisting in a surgical business, and Florence Scrivens (10) were in the home on the night of the census. George Arthur, who had joined the RMLI in 1902, was serving with a detachment onboard HMS Cumberland, a cruiser. John was married and living in Long Eaton with his wife and family. John and Rebecca later lived at 18 Carver Street, Hyson Green, which remained their home until their deaths. John died on 26 June 1923 and Rebecca on 13 August 1936. John Henry married Florence Elizabeth Smith (b. Sleaford, Lincs) in 1903 and they had three daughters: Florence May b. Basford Nottingham abt. 1906, Edna Elvina b. Long Eaton 1908 (J/A/S Shardlow Derbys) and Gladys Ellen b. Long Eaton birth registered 1910 (J/F/M Shardlow). In 1911 John and Florence were living at 97 Bridge Street, Long Eaton, Derbyshire, with their daughters, Florence (6), Edna (2) and Gladys (1). John was working as a lace carriage hand. His widow Florence Elizabeth later moved to 31 Ridgeway Street, Bluebell Hill, Nottingham. His brother, George Arthur, Private RMLI, died of wounds after the Zeebrugge Raid on 23 April 1918 and was buried in Basford Cemetery, Nottingham. (See record on this Roll of Honour). Their five brothers also served: William (Motor Transport Army Service Corps, served in the Boer War); Wallace (Sherwood Foresters, POW); Charles (Royal Navy); Tennant (Royal Field Artillery) and Harold (Sherwood Foresters). Tennant continued to serve in the RFA after the war and died at Catterick Camp, Yorkshire, on 22 May 1930; he was buried in the family grave at Nottingham (New Basford) Cemetery.
John Smith entered theatre (France) after 1 January 1916. He served with the 9th Battalion and was wounded in the successful but costly attack on Poelcappelle Belgium on 4 October 1917. He was taken to the Dozinghem Casualty Clearing Station and died two days later on 6 October. He was buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, grave VII. I. 15. CWGC - History of Dozinghem Military Cemetery (extract): 'Westvleteren was outside the front held by Commonwealth forces in Belgium during the First World War, but in July 1917, in readiness for the forthcoming offensive, groups of casualty clearing stations were placed at three positions called by the troops Mendinghem, Dozinghem and Bandaghem. The 4th, 47th and 61st Casualty Clearing Stations were posted at Dozinghem and the military cemetery was used by them until early in 1918. ' (www.cwgc.org) John Morse
Personal inscription, CWGC headstone: 'Oh God grant him eternal rest' (WMA 58888) Long Eaton war memorial, Market Place, does not include names which are inscribed on rolls of honour displayed in the Town Hall, Long Eaton, Derbyshire. John Henry Smith is commemorated on a memorial erected on a house in Hamilton Road, Long Eaton, to mark 17 residents, including a father and son, who served and died in the war. The plaque was restored by the Long Eaton Branch of the Royal British Legion. Inscription, family gravestone, Basford Cemetery, Nottingham: 'In loving memory of John Henry who died of wounds in France Oct, 6th 1917, aged 35 years. Also of George Arthur, who died of wounds at Zeebrugge, April 23rd 1918, aged 35 years. The beloved sons of John & Rebecca Smith. Also of John the beloved husband of Rebecca Smith, who died June 26th 1923, aged 75 years. Also the above Rebecca Smith, who died August 15th 1936, aged 87 years. Reunited. Also of Mary Giles Fell, who died June 1st 1911 aged 58 years. Also Gunner Tennant Smith, son of the above, who died May 22nd 1930, aged 40 years. At rest.' Extract from a report in the Nottingham Evening Post, 29 April 1918, of the funeral of his brother, Private George Smith RMLI, who was buried in Nottingham (New Basford) Cemetery: 'Private George Smith, who joined the Navy 14 years ago, was one of the seven fighting sons of Mr and Mrs John Smith, 18, Carver-street, Nottingham. Of his brothers, Lance-Corpl. Jack [John Henry] Smith, Sherwood Foresters, was killed in action in October last; Lance-Corpl. Wallce Smith, Sherwood Foresters, who has completed nearly 15 years’ service, is now a prisoner of war; Driver Tennant Smith, RFA, and AB Charles Smith, RN, have each eight years; service to their credit; Driver Will Smith, MT, ASC, went through the Boer War, and the last of the seven, Lance-Corpl. Harold Smith, is on active service with the Sherwoods. The family posseses a record of patriotism of which they have just reason to be proud.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 27 May 1930: ‘Notts Family’s Patriotism. Gunner’s Death Recalls Great War Sacrifice. An echo of the Great War and the patriotism of a Nottingham family is occasioned by the death at Catterick Camp of Gunner Tennant Smith, Royal Field Artillery, who has had 20 years’ service in the army. He was one of the seven sons of the late Mr John Smith and Mrs Smith, of 18, Carver-street, Hyson Green, Nottingham, who were all on active service at the same time in the war. Of the seven, only three remain. George Smith was killed while serving in the RMLI in the historic naval raid on Zeebrugge; Jack [John] was killed on service with the Sherwood Foresters; whilst Will, who went through both the Boer War and the Great War, has since died. The three brothers alive are Harold, who served in the Sherwood Foresters, and now resides at 20, Carver-street, Wallace, also a Sherwood Forester; and Charles, who was in the Royal Navy. The deceased was a driver in the RFA during the was and had since risen to the rank of gunner. His death came after a short illness. The funeral will take place at Basford tom-morrow, but owing to the desire to remove the body from Catterick, it has been rendered impossible to give military honours.’ (‘www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 27 May 1930: ‘Smith. Gunner T Smith, RFA, at Catterick Camp, on the 22nd, after a short illness, dearly beloved son of Mrs R Smith, 18 Carver-street, Hyson Green. Deeply mourned by all. Funeral Basford, Wednesday, 3 o’clock.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Acknowledgements’, 20 August 1936: ‘Family of Mrs Smith, 18, Carver-street, give thanks, friends, neighbours, also St Stephen’s Mother’s Meeting, for sympathy and floral tributes in their sad bereavement.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
