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Private Jack Smith, West Kents, son of Mr R. Smith, Kings Cliffe,
has died of wounds. This is the second son Mr Smith has lost during
the war. The Revd A. Backley, Chaplain to the Forces, has written
expressing his deep regret and sympathy, and stating that the body
had been buried by him. Private A. E. Drain, of the West Kents, a
chum of the deceased, has also written stating that Private Smith was
wounded on the 3rd instant.”
SMITH Levi
Private 203011 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment
Private 271647 Hertfordshire Regiment
Levi was born early in 1898 in Kings Cliffe, the son of Robert
and Selina Smith who lived on Apethorpe Road, Kings Cliffe.
Terrance Smith, nephew of Levi Smith, remembers his
grandmother, Selina, and the clay pipe that she invariably
smoked.
In 1911 Levi was a 13-year-old schoolboy at the village school,
and even when war was declared he was only 16 years old.
He joined the army in January 1917, going first to the
Hertfordshire Regiment and later being transferred to the Essex
Regiment.
He went to France in April 1917 where he joined the 2nd
Battalion Essex Regiment, which was already there.
The Battle of Poelcapelle on 9th October 1917 marked the end
of a string of successful British attacks in late September and
early October. A partially successful attack on the 4th October
was not followed up due to the logistical problems of moving
guns, ammunition and men across the rain- soaked ground.
The rain continued until the 8th when the ground started to dry.
The decision was to go again on the 9th, even though there was
still a shortage of adequate artillery. The 2nd Essex was in this
attack, which had heavy losses for both sides. Levi died on the
10th, but whether this was as a result of the actual attack, or he
was one of the many wounded left on the battle field is not clear.
He is remembered on the Tyne Cote Memorial, panel 98 to 99.
He was just 19 years old.
221
has died of wounds. This is the second son Mr Smith has lost during
the war. The Revd A. Backley, Chaplain to the Forces, has written
expressing his deep regret and sympathy, and stating that the body
had been buried by him. Private A. E. Drain, of the West Kents, a
chum of the deceased, has also written stating that Private Smith was
wounded on the 3rd instant.”
SMITH Levi
Private 203011 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment
Private 271647 Hertfordshire Regiment
Levi was born early in 1898 in Kings Cliffe, the son of Robert
and Selina Smith who lived on Apethorpe Road, Kings Cliffe.
Terrance Smith, nephew of Levi Smith, remembers his
grandmother, Selina, and the clay pipe that she invariably
smoked.
In 1911 Levi was a 13-year-old schoolboy at the village school,
and even when war was declared he was only 16 years old.
He joined the army in January 1917, going first to the
Hertfordshire Regiment and later being transferred to the Essex
Regiment.
He went to France in April 1917 where he joined the 2nd
Battalion Essex Regiment, which was already there.
The Battle of Poelcapelle on 9th October 1917 marked the end
of a string of successful British attacks in late September and
early October. A partially successful attack on the 4th October
was not followed up due to the logistical problems of moving
guns, ammunition and men across the rain- soaked ground.
The rain continued until the 8th when the ground started to dry.
The decision was to go again on the 9th, even though there was
still a shortage of adequate artillery. The 2nd Essex was in this
attack, which had heavy losses for both sides. Levi died on the
10th, but whether this was as a result of the actual attack, or he
was one of the many wounded left on the battle field is not clear.
He is remembered on the Tyne Cote Memorial, panel 98 to 99.
He was just 19 years old.
221
