Henry Albert Smith was born on 28 February 1887 in Penge, Kent (now Greater London), one of the eleven children of James Daniel Smith (1857-1946) and Eliza Mary Smith née Mayhew (1858-1918).
On 5 April 1891 when the census was undertaken he was shown as Harry A. Smith, aged 4 years and living in three rooms at 8 Montague Mews South, Marylebone, London, with his parents and four of his siblings: William H. Smith (b.1879) - a scholar; Arthur John Smith (b.1881) - a scholar; George D. Smith (b.1885) also a scholar and Edith Mary Smith (1890-1962). His father was described as a domestic coachman.
When the census was compiled on 31 March 1901 he was shown as Harry Smith, aged 14 years and telegraph messenger, still residing in three rooms at 8 Montague Mews South, Marylebone, with his parents and four siblings: Edith Mary Smith; Alfred Herbert Smith (1893-1973); Alma Elizabeth Smith (1896-1987) and Walter Smith (b. circa 1898). His father was described as a coachman (not domestic).
Royal Mail records show that he was appointed as a postman on 21 July 1906.
The census return form completed by his father on 2 April 1911 shows him listed as Harry Smith, a single man, aged 24 years and a postman living in three rooms at 1 Flavell Road, Wandsworth, London, with his parents, his father's aunt, Mary Smith aged 75 years and three siblings: Alma Elizabeth Smith; Walter Smith and Edward Albert Smith (b. circa 1902). His father described himself as a coachman and stated that his wife had given birth to 11 children of which 9 were still alive.
He enlisted in October 1916 as a Private the 4th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) service number 7243, and was posted to the regiment's 2nd/3rd Battalion, service number 283648, when he was reported missing, presumed killed on 26 October 1917. As he has no known grave, he is commemorated on in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Vijfwegestraat, 8980 Zonnebeke, Belgium.
On 28 September 1918 Royal Mail awarded him a gratuity of £105-5s-6d for his services as a postman Their records confirm his date of birth as 28 February 1887. On 28 November 1918 his father was sent his army effects totalling £11-17s-6d and on 6 January 1920 his £6-0s-0d war gratuity. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as "SMITH, H.A." on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the , on the , on the and on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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