Bertram Smith
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Bertram was the seventh and youngest son of Herbert and Maria Smith (née Bonnello). Both his parents were born in Nottingham, his father in about 1850 and his mother in 1851. They were married at Nottingham St Mary in June 1871 and had ten children, nine of whom survived childhood. Their children were born in Nottingham and all were baptised at Nottingham St Mary: Herbert Frederick b. 1872, Ernest b. 1874, Florence b. 1876 d. 1878, Walter b. 1878, Sydney b. 1880, Percy b. 1882, Leonard b. 1884, Mabel b. 1885, Bertram b. 12 March 1888 bap. 15 April 1888 and Dorothy b. 1890. Herbert and Marie lived on George Street, Nottingham probably from the date of their marriage to at least 1888 when their son Bertram was baptised. However, by 1891 the family had moved to Rose Mount, 1 Bridgford Road, West Bridgford, where Herbert, a draper (later a milliner), lived with his wife and their nine surviving children: Herbert (18) an organist pupil, Ernest (16) a pupil teacher, Walter (12), Sydney (10), Percy (8), Leonard (6) Mabel (5) and Dorothy (1). Herbert Frederick later became a self-employed music teacher, Sydney a chemist and druggist, Walter a watchmaker and Leonard a watchmaker and jeweller with his own shop, while Percy was a milliner's shop assistant and Bertram a warehouse man (millinery) presumably working with their father. In 1911 five children were still living at 1 Bridgford Road with their parents: Herbert, Leonard, Mabel, Bertram and Dorothy. Sydney was married and managing a chemist shop in Bulwell, Walter had also married (Beatrix Dennett m. 1906 d. Australia 1919) and he and his wife and child were living on Arkwright Street, Nottingham, where he had a shop. His brother Percy was also living with them. Ernest, who had been a pupil teacher in 1891, has not yet been traced on either the 1901 or 1911 Census but may also have emigrated. Herbert and Maria continued to live at the same address until at least January 1913 when Maria died at home at the age of 61 (burial Nottingham Church Cemetery). Herbert snr. and at least four of his children - Herbert, Bertram, Mabel and Dorothy - later moved to 30 Priory Road, West Bridgford. Leonard and Walter, both described as watchmakers, emigrated to Australia in May 1912. Walter's family probably joined him later. Herbert snr. completed a form for the army in 1919 listing his son Bertram's surviving blood relatives and named Herbert Frederick, Mabel and Dorothy who were living at 30 Priory Road, and Sydney and Percy who were married and also living in West Bridgford. He did not include either Ernest or Leonard and Walter who presumably were still in Australia. Herbert snr. died at 30 Priory Road in February 1922.
10th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps. Bertram attested on 29 May 1915 aged 27 years 2 months, occupation milliner. He joined at Winchester on 3 June 1915 He was drafted to BEF France, embarking on 24 November and disembarking the following day. He joined the battalion on the 29th. Bertram's service record was annoted that he was reported missing on 6 September; the battalion had been involved in heavy fighting around Guillemont on 3 September. Bertram Smith's date of death was later accepted as having occurred on 3 September 1916 but his death was not confirmed until August the following year. He is buried in Serre Road Cemetery No. 2, France (grave ref. XXV. J. 3) but the history of the cemetery indicates that Bertram's grave was brought in after the Armistice. He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 (extract): 'The village of Serre is 11 kilometres north-north-east of Albert. In June 1916, the road out of Mailly-Maillet to Serre and Puisieux entered No Man's Land about 1,300 metres south-west of Serre. On 1 July 1916, the 31st and 4th Divisions attacked north and south of this road and although parties of the 31st Division reached Serre, the attack failed. The 3rd and 31st Divisions attacked once more on the 13 November, but again without success. Early in 1917, the Germans fell back to the Hindenburg Line and on 25 February, Serre was occupied by the 22nd Manchesters. The village changed hands once more in March 1918 and remained under German occupation, until they withdrew in August. In the spring of 1917, the battlefields of the Somme and Ancre were cleared by V Corps and a number of new cemeteries were made, three of which are now named from the Serre Road. Serre Road Cemetery No.2 was begun in May 1917 and by the end of the war it contained approximately 475 graves (Plots I and II, except for Row E, Plot II which was added in 1922 and Row AA, Plot I which was added in 1927), but it was greatly enlarged after the Armistice by the addition of further graves from the surrounding area, including graves from the following smaller cemeteries [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC: 'Son of Herbert and Maria Smith, of 30, Priory Rd., West Bridgford, Nottingham.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 20 and 21 August 1917: ‘Smith. Missing September 3rd, 1916,now reported killed, Rifleman Bertram Smith, KRR, dearly-loved son of Herbert Smith, 30, Priory-road, West Bridgford, aged 28.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Smith Bertram of 30 Priory-road West Bridgford Nottinghamshire private in HM Army died 3 September 1916 in France Probate Nottingham 25 September to Herbert Smith milliner and Herbert Frederick Smith professor of music. Effects £605. 14s. 3d. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: executors father Herbert Smith and brother Herbert Frederick Smith Bertram's brother Herbert wrote to the army on 4 October 1916 enquiring about his brother: 'Dear Sir, I should be obliged if you could give me some information concerning by brother: Rifleman B Smith 13676, 77’ Company 13th Platoon 10th Bn King’s Royal Riflle Corps, now in France. He has not written home now for some time and we are getting anxious about him. Yours truly HF Smith.' Another letter from Herbert, written in 1917, again enquiring about his brother and perhaps written jjust before the family had confirmation of Bertram's death, survives in the service documents.
