Private 80289 Thomas Bayley Smith


 Smith Thomas Bayley 96 411x600


Died Home on Wednesday, 31st March 1920, age 27.
Buried in Grave C. "C." 1166. at Tipton Cemetery, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.

3rd Bn., West Yorkshire Regt. (Prince of Wales Own). Depot Battalion.
Formerly 28915 King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

Son of Thomas and Emma Smith. Born at Tipton.
Born: Unknown, Enlisted: Unknown, Resident: Unknown.

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 Commonwealth War Graves site.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/395361/


Genealogical Data

Birth of Thomas Bayley Smith registered September quarter 1892 at Dudley.

1901 Census
39 New Road, Great Bridge, Tipton, Staffs.
Thomas Smith (39, Insurance & House Agent, born Tipton), his wife Emma (37, born Tipton), and their only child: Thomas B, (8, born Tipton).

1911 Census
39 New Road, Great Bridge, Tipton, Staffs.
Thomas Smith (49, House Agent, born Tipton), his wife Emma (47, born Tipton), and their 1 surviving child of 2: Thomas Bayley (18, Chartered Accountant Articled Clerk, born Tipton).


Personal Data

According to Thomas's entry in the Silver War Badge Register, he had enlisted on 27th November 1915, had served abroad, and was discharged on 14th March 1919 due to sickness, aged 27.

Sadly he was the only surviving child of Thomas and Emma Smith.


Action resulting in his death

Thomas was discharged from the army on 14th March 1919 due to sickness. He died 31st March 1920 from' phthisis' which is pulmonary tuberculosis or a similar progressive wasting disease. As he has a CWGC headstone, the army had acknowledged that his sickness was as a result, or aggravated by, his military service. Thomas is buried in Tipton Cemetery.


Newspaper Cuttings

None.