Private 234133 Thomas Harold Smith
Killed in Action on Saturday, 10th November 1917, age 28.
Commemorated on Panel 24 - 26 - 28 - 30 of Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
8th Bn., Canadian Infantry (90th Winnipeg Rifles).
Formerly 203rd Bn., Canadian Infantry.
Son of Samuel and Hannah Smith, of 50b Park Lane West, Tipton, Staffs., England.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Saskatoon, Canada, Resident: South Saskatoon, Canada.
First landed France & Flanders, 28th October 1917.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.
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/1596140/
Genealogical Data
Birth of Thomas Harold Smith registered June quarter 1889 in Dudley. Thomas was born on 12th April 1889.
1901 Census
13 New Cross Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Samuel Smith (49, Stationary Engine Tender at Grease Works, born Sedgley), his wife Hannah (48, born Sedgley), and their 6 children: Samuel R. (20, Bricklayer, born Sedgley), William (18, Stoker (Stationary Engine), born Sedgley), Margaret A. (16, Dress Maker, born Sedgley), Rose H. (14, born Sedgley), Thomas H. (11, born Tipton), and Louisa D. (3, born Tipton).
1911 Census
50b Park Lane West, Tipton, Staffs.
Samuel Smith (59, Engine Tender at Grease Works, born Coseley), his wife Hannah (59, born 'Coppice'), and 4 of their 8 surviving children of 9: Margaret Alice (26, Dress Maker, born Roseville), Rose Hannah (24, born Roseville), Thomas Harold (22, Compositor in Printing, born Tipton), and Louisa Dora (13, School, born Tipton).
Personal Data
Thomas emigrated to Canada at some time after the 1911 census. At the time of his attestation in 1916, he was living at 338 Avenue U South, Saskatoon. This was probably the residence of fellow Tipton emigree, Laurence Bertram Henn. Laurence's brother, Ernest George Henn, lost his life when the Lucitania was sunk off the coast of Ireland in May 1915.
Thomas attested on 2nd March 1916 at Saskatoon, initially with the 203rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry. He stated that he had been born in Tipton, and his next of kin was his mother, Mrs Hannah Smith of 50b Park Lane West, Tipton. He was 26 years and 11 months old, 5 feet 7½ inches tall with a 37-inch chest, had fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair, no previous military experience and was a Methodist. He had worked as a Compositor before emigrating, in Saskatoon he had started a similar small business, but was latterly working for the 'Saskatoon Star'.
From his pay of $1.10 per day, Thomas assigned a monthly deduction of $15 to be sent to his widowed mother, Mrs Hannah Smith. His War Gratuity amounted to $180 which was paid to his mother in August 1920.
He sailed from Halifax on 26th October 1916 aboard "H.M.S. Grampian", arriving in Liverpool on 4th November. In January 1917, he transferred to the 18th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Seaford, about 8 miles west of Easbourne, Sussex. This training had a 3-month attatchment (July to mid-October) to the 14th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Dibgate which may have been a punishment as it states "for RPC(??) and Discipline". He was drafted to the 8th Battalion and crossed to France, arriving at the Canadian Base Depot at Etaples on 29th Ocotber, then arriving with the 8th Battalion 'in the field' on 2nd November. His war was not to last long.
Action resulting in his death
The Canadian Corps arrived in the Ypres Salient on 13th October 1917. On the 22nd they relieved the Australians on the slopes of the Passchendaele Ridge. Just 4 days later they began their advance during the Second Battle of Passchendaele.
During the 26th and 27th October, the Canadian 4th Division fought their way up the ridge to Decline Copse, and on the 30th October to Crest Farm on the south-west outskirts of Passchendaele. The Canadian 3rd Division had taken the Bellevue Spur to the west of Passchendaele.
The final push commenced on 6th November after the 3rd and 4th Divisions had been replaced by the 1st and 2nd Divisions. It was at this stage that Thomas Smith, as part of 1st Division, came into action.
On the 6th November the 2nd Division completed the capture of the village of Passchendaele, whilst the 1st Division was to the north-west of Passchendaele on the Bellevue Spur moving towards Mosselmarkt – this is where Thomas Smith saw his final days. By 7.45am Mosselmarkt had been captured by the 1st Canadian Division. For the next 3 days the Canadians consolidated their position.
Haig desired one more attempt to take ground to overlook the German positions over the winter. So, at dawn on the 10th November in the pouring rain, the 7th [1st British Columbia] and 8th [90th Rifles] Battalions launched an assault on two enemy positions to the east of the Mosselmarkt – Meetcheele road known as ‘Venture Farm’ and ‘Vindictive Crossroads’.
The 8th Battalion had already lost over sixty of its men by Zero Hour on the 10th due to enemy shellfire. Nevertheless, the unit had launched its attack as planned and despite the intense enemy machine gun and artillery fire had advanced over five hundred yards to also achieve all its objectives by 7.00am that day. Throughout the remainder of the day, they consolidated their newly won positions and had repulsed several concerted enemy counter attacks until the onset of darkness.
It was during this action that Thomas Smith, of the 8th [90th Rifles] Battalion lost his life. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres.
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Map courtesy of Nick Lloyd, page 270 of his excellent book 'Passchendaele - A New History'.
Newspaper Cuttings
Tipton Herald 22nd December 1917
ANOTHER TIPTON HERO.
The death is announced of Signaller Thomas Harold Smith, age 28, of the 203rd Canadian Battalion. He was the youngest son of Mrs S. Smith and the late Mr Samuel Smith 50b Park Lane West, Tipton. He is a brother of Mr Smith, road foreman for the Tipton District Council.
The deceased soldier was in Canada at the outbreak of war, residing with Mr & Mrs L.B. Henn, formerly of Tipton. He joined the forces in March 1916, and after being stationed in Winnipeg for some time, came over to England about November 1916. He was killed in action in France on November 10th of this year. A letter received by his mother from the chaplain stated that he was killed while "going over the top".
Prior to emigrating to Canada, four or five years ago, the deceased soldier was employed locally as a printer, and in Canada started a small business of his own, but was afterwards engaged upon the "Saskatoon Star."
Tipton Herald 9th November 1918
In Memoriam.
SMITH. In memory of my dear brother, Private Thomas Harold Smith (Canadian Forces), killed in action in France, November 10th 1917. Ever remembered by his sister Nance, brother-in-law Jack, and little Nancy (Park Lane West, Tipton)
also
SMITH. In loving memory of Private T.H. Smith, CEF, killed in action in France, November 10th 1917. Ever remembered by his sorrowing mother (in Tipton), sisters and brothers.
"There's a lonely grave in France,
Where a brave young soldier sleeps,
There's a dear old home in England
Where his mother often weeps.
One sad year has passed away,
Since one we loved was called away,
He answered his country's call,
His life he gave for one and all.
The unknown grave is the hardest blow,
Where our loved one is sleeping we shall never know."