Harry Ernest Smith

A Private with the 1/4th Battalion, Harry died on 18th of August 1916 at the age of 22. 

Harry was born at Lowestoft in 1894, a son of Frederick and Ellen Selina Smith. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley, on 3 May 1895. In 1901 his family lived at Horn Hill. By 1911 Harry’s mother had died and his family lived at 2 Florence Terrace, Saint John's Road, and Harry was a general labourer. 

Harry volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in 1915. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 3065, and was posted to the 1/4th Battalion, and arrived in France on 16 April 1915 to join the battalion. 

On 14 August 1916 the 1/4th Battalion moved into an area of trenches known as Seaforth, Black Watch and Worcester Trenches, near High Wood. At 2.45 p.m. on 18 August the battalion attacked the German trenches opposite their position as part of a brigade assault. D and C Companies reached the German line but had to retire as they had both flanks ‘in the air’ and no reinforcements were forthcoming. Two Lewis rifles (machine-guns) were positioned in the German trench and hostile bombing attacks repulsed. Finally, the men withdrew to Seaforth Trench. 

In the attack the battalion had three officers killed and three wounded, and 33 other ranks killed, 108 wounded, 17 missing presumed killed and 23 missing.  

Harry was killed in action on 18 August.