Cyril Smith

Cyril was the son of Samuel and Priscilla Smith (née Springthorpe). His father Samuel was born in Somercoates, Derbyshire, in about 1860. His mother Priscilla was born in Leicestershire in 1869, the daughter of Joseph and Eliza Springthorpe. Her family was living in Thringstone, Leicestershire, in 1861; Priscilla was 11 months old. Samuel and Priscilla were married in 1876 (O/N/D Chesterfield) and had nine children of whom one died in infancy or early childhood. Eight children were named on the census between 1881 and 1891: Joseph b. Newbold Derbyshire abt. 1879, Lilian b. Newbold abt. 1880 and Louisa J b. Whittingham Derbyshire abt. 1882; the other five children were born in Skegby: Lawrence b. 1884 (A/M/J Mansfield), Ernest b. 1886 (J/A/S Mansfield), Cyril b. 4 September 1888, Sallie birth registered 1894 (J/F/M Mansfield) and Harold b. abt 1897. In 1881 Samuel (22), a coal miner, and Priscilla (21) were living at 17 Duke Street, Whittington, Chesterfield, with their two children Joseph (2) and Lilian (1). By 1891 they had moved to Meden Bank, Stanton Hill, Skegby. Samuel's occupation was given as coal miner deputy and grocer. He and Priscilla now had six children: Joseph (12), Lilian (11), Louisa (9), Lawrence (7), Ernest (4) and Cyril (1). They were still living at the same address - 68 Meden Bank - in 1891. Samuel was still a coal miner deputy but Priscilla's occupation was now given as grocer/shopkeeper. Only six of their eight children were in the home on the night of the census: Lilian (21), Laurence (17) a coal miner, Ernest (14) a baker's apprentice, Cyril (11), Sallie (7) and Harold (3). By 1911 Samuel, now a baker and grocer's dealer on his own account, and Priscilla were living at Wharf Road, Meden Bank, Stanton Hill, Skegby, with three of their children, Lawrence (27) a coal miner and Sallie (17) and Harold (13) whose occupations were given as 'help', presumably assisting at home and in the business. Also in the household was Florence Scott (16) a general domestic servant. His parents were still living at the same address when Cyril was killed in 1915. His younger brother, Harold, also served and was killed in action in 1917. Cyril had married Lily Percival in 1908 (A/M/J Mansfield) and they had two children, Elizabeth b. 1913 (A/M/J Mansfield), who probably died in 1940 (A/M/J Mansfield), and Clarence b. 16 July 1914 (J/A/S Mansfield). The family was living at 127 Cross Row, Stanton Hill, when Cyril was killed in 1915. Cyril's widow married Joseph Fisher in 1918 (O/N/D Mansfield) and they lived initially at 122 Brand Lane, Stanton Hill, Mansfield. However, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living at 82 Outram Street, Sutton in Ashfield; Joseph (b. 3 February 1888) was an unemployed miner. Also in the household were Lily's son by her first marriage, Clarence Smith, a boot repairer, and Ivy Fisher (b. 5 June 1923) a factory hand, Harold Fisher (b. 18 April 1929) and Peter Fisher (b. 20 February 1931, no birth registration identified). From other birth registrations in this period in the name of Fisher (mother's maiden name Percival) it is probable that Joseph and Lily had had three other children; there are three closed records on the Register. Lily probably died in 1964 (J/F/M Mansfield).

Enlisted at Sutton in Ashfield

'D' Company Chatham Battalion. Cyril Smith enlisted on 4th September 1914 at Sutton in Ashfield. Formerly Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), he transferred to Chatham Division Royal Marine Light Infantry (Royal Naval Division) on 16 September 1914. He was with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 6 February 1915, serving in Gallipoli and and was reported missing presumed dead on 28th May 1915. His death in action was not confirmed until July the following year. Cyril has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey.

His brother Harold Smith served with the 10th Bn Sherwood Foresters (46509 Private) and was killed in action on 9 July 1917, Arras Memorial (see record on this ROH). Smith was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. (He transferred on a short service engagement on 16/9/1914). Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S).' Mansfield Reporter, 14 July 1916: ‘Missing Over A Year. Stanton Hill Soldier Now Reported Dead. After being reported as missing since May 28th, 1915, an official intimation has been received that the death of Private C Smith, 138, D Company, 9th Battalion, Chatham RMLI, may be assumed to have occurred on the Galliipoli Peninsula on that date. Pte Smith, who was 26 years of age, leaves a wife and several children, whose home is at 127, Cross-row, Stanton Hill.’ (www.britishnewspaperachive.co.uk)