Photo : Duncan Liddell
Henry Richard Smyth
Medal Index Card
Newcastle Chronicle Tuesday 05/09/1916
Photo : Duncan Liddell
Duncan Liddell has submitted the following photographs and information:-
Henry Richard Smyth was the youngest born of three children at Whitburn, in 1895, to James William Smyth, born July 1858 at Saffron Waldren, Essex, [the son of George, born 1811, a bailiff, and Susanna Smith, born 1816, {not Smyth}], a domestic Gardener by profession, died on the 20th November 1933, and his wife Susannah [nee Christie], born 1862 at Wappenham, baptised on the 23rd February 1862, [daughter of John Chester, born 1811, died 1886, he was a shoe-maker by profession, and his wife Rhoda Blackwell, born 1819, baptised on the 30th May 1819 at Syresham, died 1893], she died on the 20th March 1935. They were married on the 10th May 1886, at the parish church at Wappenham. James was residing at Chislehurst when he got married.
They had three children, Henry Richard Smyth, Ethel May Smyth, born 10th November 1893, at Whitburn and Thomas Chester Smyth born 1887, also born at Whitburn.
James William Smyth his father had been employed as a gardener for Major Augustine E. Burdon who died in 1909, at some time. James also was present at the 23d Annual Cramlington Society on Saturday, 7th September 1901, as a judge for the open classes.
Henry Richard was educated at the Morpeth Grammar School, from 1906 to 1911. Henry and his brother Thomas were both very sporty at school. At Hartford House Cricket in Hartford v Choppington, on Saturday 31st August 1907, Thomas Chester Smyth made 29 runs for Hartford, 1st innings, before being bowled by Duncan for 29 runs, prior in the Choppington Ist innings Smyth also took the wicket of the opener E. Elliot for 2 runs.
Henry in 1908 passed with honours in the third degree the preliminary division of the Oxford Local Examinations. At the Morpeth Grammar School sports Day on Friday 7th August 1908, Smyth was awarded a prize for Work. Also for the Latin Language he came 4th.
Henry them was employed at Bessler and Waechter, and Co., a merchant firm, studying languages, then based at Collingwood Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Henry Richard Smyth enlisted in October 1914 at Newcastle and enlisted into the 16th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. Service number 16/111 and was in the 2nd Platoon, of 'A' Company. This company was commanded by Captain George Nesbitt who was born on the 6th October 1870 at Berwick. [Before the outbreak of the war George was residing at 7 Weardale Terrace, Chester-le-Street]. After training at Alnwick from the 8th December 1914 the battalion was to be brigaded with the 18th and 19th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers and the 18th (Service) Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry into the 122nd Brigade.
Later the 16th Battalion was transferred to the 96th Brigade part of the 32nd Division.
The battalion was now at Cramlington, then Catterick finally at Codford. It departed the UK from Folkestone and Southampton arriving in France on the 22nd November 1915.
He was in the 4th platoon but was transferred to the 2nd platoon, still 'A' Company. Henry Richard Smyth was made up to Acting Lance-Corporal in about April 1916.
On the 1st July 1916 at 7.30am 'A' and 'B' Companies went over the parapet walking towards the German front line... Lieutenant F. L. Cassel, German 99th Infantry Reserve Regiment, On 1st July, at 7.30am., the shout of the sentry 'they are coming' tore me out of apathy. Helmet, belt, rifle and up the steps. On the steps something white and bloody, in the trench a headless body. The sentry had lost his life by a last shell, before the fire was directed to the rear, and had paid for his vigilance with his life. W rushed to the ramparts, there they come, the Khaki-yellows, they advance fully equipped slowly to march across our bodies into the open country. But no boys, we are still alive, the moles come out of their holes. Machine gun fire tears holes into their rows. They discover our presence , throw themselves into the ground, now a mass of craters, welcomed by hand-grenades and gun fire, and have now to sell their lives themselves.
The men of the attacking companies moved forward in close order formation shoulder to shoulder like one man, until the murderous fire of the enemies machine-gun forced them to halt.
Colonel Ritson of the 16th Battalion watched the slaughter as his leading companies marched forward into No mans land. He had to be restrained in the trench by 16/234 Corporal S. Henderson from 'A' Company otherwise he would have been killed. With tears streaming down his face he kept saying over and over 'My God! My Boys! My Boys!
Henry Richard Smyth was killed on the 1st July.
Newcastle Journal 05/09/1916 reports:- Lance Corporal H.R. Smyth younger son of Mr and Mrs James Smyth has been killed. He was previously in the employ of Messrs Bessler and Waechter Collingwood Buildings Newcastle. An elder brother was killed on July 30.
Morpeth Herald 08/09/1916 reads:- Mr J. Smyth of the Gardens Hartford House Bedlington has received official intimation of the death of his youngest son Lance Corporal Henry R. Smyth who was killed in action on July 1st. Mr and Mrs Smyth have now only one daughter left to comfort them; both of their sons have made the great sacrifice in defence of their country's honour. Henry like his brother Tom was a pupil for five years at Morpeth Grammar School and afterwards for three years with Bessler and Waechter Collingwood Street Newcastle studying languages. He joined the Army at the out break of hostilities. Those who knew him intimately entertained high hopes of a brilliant future for him and justly had great admiration for his manly character and sweet disposition.
It is very sad that such painful news should be announced to the parents while their heads were yet bent in sorrow for the loss of their eldest son on 30th July. All will sympathize with the family and pray that strength may be given to them to bear the heavy trial.
Henry Richard Smyth is remembered at Bedlington on B15.02, B15.09, B15.20 in B15.26 page 26, and also at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in NUT068 page 98, 152 and 177, on NUT043, NUT209, at Morpeth on M17.06 and M17.12.
