Arthur Smith

Artjir was the youngest son of Thomas and Hannah Smith (née Hartshorn). His father Thomas was born in Arnold in about 1859, the son of Henry Smith, a framework knitter. His mother Hannah was born in 1859, also in Arnold, the daughter of John Hartshorn who was also a framework knitter, and his wife Emma. Hannah was baptised at Arnold St Mary in early January 1860. Thomas and Hannah were married at Arnold St Mary in October 1880 and had seven children who were all born in Arnold: William b. 1882, Emma b. 1883, Ethel b. 1886, Harry b. 1888, John birth registered 1892 (J/F/M), Arthur b. 1894 and Nellie b. 1898. At the start of their marriage, Thomas and Hannah lived at Frosts Row, High Street, Arnold; Thomas was a framework knitter and Hannah a laundress. However, by 1891 they had moved to St Albans Road, Daybrook, and probably lived on Acton's Row, and continued to live there for most, if not all, their married life - Harry's CWGC record gave the same address for the couple. All seven children were in the home in 1901: William a framework knitter, Emma a hosiery machinist, Ethel a laundress (as was her mother), Harry, John, Arthur and Nellie. However, by 1911 only four children were living with their parents: Harry and Arthur who were miners, John a framework knitter and the youngest child, Nellie, who was still at school.

1911 - coal miner

St Albans Road, Daybrook, Nottingham. Enlisted Nottingham

'B' Coy, 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) The 1st Battalion was serving in India when war was declared and returned from Bombay to the UK, disembarking at Plymouth in early October 1914. It came under orders of 24th Brigade, 8th Division, and joined the BEF France, landing at Le Havre in early November 1914. For a short period, October 1915-January 1916, the Battalion was attached 'for the purposes of giving insruction' to 23rd Division. Arthur enlisted in Nottingham into his local county regiment, the Sherwood Foresters. After training he was posted to the Regiment's 1st Battalion, then serving in France. Records in the regimental archives show that he joined the Battalion at Richebourg on 7 February 1915. Arthur was in action in the area around Neuve Chapelle when he was killed on 12 March 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France (Panels 26 and 27). He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Le Touret Memorial (extract): the Memorial is at the east end of Le Touret Military Cemetery. It 'commemorates over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos in late September 1915 and who have no known grave ... Almost all of the men commemorated on the Memorial served with regular or territorial regiments from across the United Kingdom and were killed in actions that took place along a section of the front line that stretched from Estaires in the north to Grenay in the south. This part of the Western Front was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting of the first year of the war, including the battles of La Bassée (10 October – 2 November 1914), Neuve Chapelle (10 – 12 March 1915) [continues].' (www.cwgc.org)

Arthur's elder brother, Harry, served in the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (36185 Private), and died of wounds on 1 May 1916. He is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 2, France. (See record on this Roll of Honour) WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his father, Thomas Smith. Registers of Soldier's Effects: his father, Thomas Smith, was his legatee.