Private 23077 Samuel Smith

Killed in Action on Sunday, 23rd July 1916, age 18.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 10 B 11 B and 12 B of Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

1st Bn., Northumberland Fusiliers. 9th Brigade of 3rd Division.

Son of Thomas and Maria Smith, of 51 Spring Close Street, Leeds, Yorkshire.
Born: Dudley Port, Enlisted: Worcester, Resident: Leeds.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/813147/

Genealogical Data

1891 Census
11 Tudor Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Thomas Smith (33, Boilermaker, born West Bromwich), his wife Fanny (37, born West Bromwich), and their 6 children: Thomas (14, Ironworker, born West Bromwich), Sarah (12, Scholar, born West Bromwich), Job (12, Scholar, born West Bromwich), Fanny (6, Scholar, born Tipton), Josiah (4, born Tipton), and Richard (1, born Tipton).

Thomas’s wife, Fanny, died in June quarter 1895. Thomas married the widowed Maria Martin (also of Tudor Street) on 23rd August 1896 at St. Paul’s Church in Owen Street, Tipton. Thomas’s forename was registered as William.

Birth of Samuel Smith registered March quarter 1898 in Dudley. The family moved to Leeds between 1898 and 1901.

1901 Census
26 Ark Street, Leeds, Yorkshire.
Thomas Smith (43, Boilermaker, born West Bromwich), his wife Maria (40, born Darlaston), and their 2 children: Samuel (3, born Tipton) and Albert (1 month, born Leeds).
Also 3 of Thomas’s children from his first marriage: Richard (11, born Dudley Port), William (9, born Dudley Port) and John (7, born Dudley Port).
Also Maria’s 5 children from her first marriage: Maria Martin Smith (15, Spinner in Flax Mill, born Dudley Port), Jane Martin Smith (12, born Dudley Port), Joseph Martin Smith (8, born Dudley Port), Jeremiah Martin Smith (6, born Dudley Port), and Mary Ann Martin Smith (5, born Dudley Port).

1911 Census
17 Harry Crescent, Leeds, Yorkshire.
Thomas Smith (56, Boilermaker, born West Bromwich), his wife Maria (53, born Darlaston), and their 2 surviving children of 3: Samuel (13, Boilermaker’s Apprentice, born Tipton) and Albert (10, born Leeds).
Also 3 of Thomas’s children from his first marriage: Richard (21, Brickworks Labourer, born Tipton), William (19, Brickworks Labourer, born Tipton) and John (17, Brickworks Labourer, born Tipton).
Also 3 of Maria’s children from her first marriage: Joseph Martin (19, Iron Founder, born Tipton), Jeremiah Martin (17, Coal Miner, born Tipton), and Mary Ann Martin (15, Piecener in Cloth Mill, born Tipton).

Personal Data

Samuel Smith was born in Tipton in March quarter 1898, but within the next 3 years his family had moved to live in Leeds. His father and mother had married in 1896 after the deaths of their first spouses in 1895. Between 1898 and 1901 the extensive family moved to Leeds, they consisted of Smith children, Martin children, and Smith children from the new marriage, this latter category included Samuel.

Samuel's brother Albert Smith (Pte 44632, 5th Lincolnshire Regiment), and his two half-brothers Jeremiah Martin (Pte 8414, 2nd Scots Guards) and Joseph Martin (Pte 8475, 2nd Scots Guards) were also killed in the Great War. Albert was born and resident in Leeds so is not commemorated on this Tipton website, but Jeremiah and Joseph are both commemorated on this website.

After Samuel’s death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £6/1/2d (6 pounds, 1 shilling and 2 pence); this was paid to his father, Thomas, in September 1917. His War Gratuity was £3/10/0d (3 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his father in September 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Samuel had enlisted in approximately July 1915.

Samuel’s father, Thomas Smith, was awarded a Dependant’s Pension of 12/0d (12 shillings exactly) per week effective from 2nd September 1920. This was to cover the deaths of his 2 sons Albert and Samuel. His address was given as 51 Spring Close Street, Leeds. Another Pension Card shows Samuel and Albert, but also mentions William (Dvr 775674, RFA) – it has not been possible to find him as a casualty.

Action resulting in his death

Still to be researched. Contact me if required.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.