Biography of Lance Corporal Albert Smith (12552)
6h Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Regiment
Died 23rd September 1916

Mother

• Name: Mary Ann Smith
• DOB: 1851
• Place Of Birth: Liverpool, Lancashire, England
• Marriage: 

Relatives in services

• Albert’s brothers Archie also fought and were killed in WW1. Archie can be found on our page dedicated to the Horbling War Memorial. Another Brother Ernest served in the Royal Field Artillery and was wounded.

Marriage

• No marriage for Albert has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

• Grantham Journal Saturday September 12th 1914
  LOCAL PATRIOTS. Several Billingborough and Horbling young men have rallied most patriotically to the nation’s call.  Thier names anf the regiments in which they have enlisted are as follows:- H. J. Tebb, Royal Horse Artillery, R. W. Tebb, Royal Horse Artillery, and Herbert Tebb, 1th Hussars, sons of Mr H. Tebb (Horbling); Leslie G Hodgkinson, Royal Field Artillery, C. Norman Hodgkinson, Royal Engineers, son, of Mr. C. G. Hodgkinshon, Ernest Smith, Royal Foeld Artillery, and Albert Smith, Oxford and Bucks. Light Infantry sons of Mr. William Smith, bootmaker. Mr Smith has also another son in the regular service, viz., Bandsman Archie Smith, 3rd King’s Royal Rifles.  The following have enlisted in Lord Kitchener’s New Army:- Fred Harrison, son of Mr. H. C. Harrison; Walter Nicholson, W Carpenter )Horbling). Frank Corn, W. Watson (Horbling), Harris Ellingworth (Horbling, W. Swin (Horbling), H. Kemp (G.N. railway clerk, Billingborough), W. Birch and W. H. and J. F. Pattinson (Stow), Mr. John Marshall, hairdresser, who saw active service in the South Africain war, has also been accepted. The Yeomanry ranks include Eric Barber, son of Ald. J. S. Barber, of Rookfield.  There are several others serving in the Regular Army.  The recruits mentioned are in addition to the lads – mostly farm hands – who enlisted on Monday night.

• Lincolnshire Echo Wednesday 27th September 1916
  On Monday last Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Smith of Horbling, received an official notification that their son, Pte. Albert Smith, Of the Oxford and Bucks, Light Infantry, had died at the Base Hospital, Rouen, from wounds received in action. The deepest sympathy is felt for the sorrowful parents, for quite recently another son, Driver Ernest Smith, of the R.F.A., was wounded in France and is now in a London Convalescent Hospital. To add to their grief a third son, Bandsman Archie Smith, of the K.R.R., not long ago succumbed to an illness from which he suffered after returning with his regiment from India.

• Stamford Mercury Friday 29th September 1916
  HORBLING
  On Monday Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Smith, of this village, received an official communication that their youngest son priv. Albert Smith, of the Oxford and Bucks. Light Infantry, had died at the base hospital, Rouen, from wounds received in action.  They had previously received a communication stating that he had been wounded, but were not informed that his injuries were serious, so that the news came to them as a great shock.  The deepest sympathy is extended to the sorrowing family, for recently another son driver Ernesr Smith, of the R.F.A. was wounded in France, and is  now in a convalescent hospital near London.  A third son, Bandaman Archie Smith, of the K.R.R. not long ago succumed to an illness from which he had suffered after returning from India.

• Grantham Journal Saturday 30th September 1916
  HOBLING
  THE GREAT SACRIFICE – On Monday, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Smith received an official notification that their son – Lance-Corpl. A. Smith, Oxford and Bucks. Light Infantry, had died from wounds. In Wednesday the parents received a letter from the Matron of the Hospital stating that he passed peacefylly away on the 23rd inst., and that his grave will be marked by a cross.  Deceased was 23 years of age. They had previously received communication stating that he had been wounded.  The deepest sympathy is felt for the sorrowful parents, for quite recently another son Driver Ernest Smith, R.F.A., was wounded and is now in a London Convalescent Hospital. To add to their grief a third son Bandsman Archie Smith, of the K.R.R., not long ago succumbed to an illness after returning from India.

Military Records

Medals

• The British Medal
  The Victory Medal
  The 15 Star

Memorials

• UK:
• Horbling, Roll of Honour in St Andrew’s Church

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
• In memory of Lance Corporal Albert Smith, 12552, 6th Bn., Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry Regiment who died on 23 September 1916 Age 24
• Son of William and Mary Ann Smith, of Horbling, Folkingham, Lincs.
• Remembered with honour, St Sever Cemetery, Rouen

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

• Enlisted in Nuneaton.

• This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

Sources

• WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• British Newspaper Archive.