Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Samuel Smith (888)

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SAMUEL SMITH (1888-1916)

Samuel was born in Berkhamsted in 1888, the youngest of nine children of Samuel Smith and Hannah Bradbury, and was baptised on 20 May 1888 at St Michael and All Angels Sunnyside.

In 1891, Samuel was living with his parents and siblings – William (1873-), Arthur (-), Esther Emily (1881-) and Kate (1883-) – in George Street.  His father was a Wood Turner and his elder brothers were Apprentice Brush Makers.

Over the next decade, the family moved across town to 3 Hamilton Road.  Some of Samuel’s siblings had married and flown the nest, leaving Samuel, his parents and elder sisters Esther and Kate living in the household at the time of the 1901 Census.

The family remained in Hamilton Road and by the time of the 1911 Census; Samuel was a Postman and living in the family home with his parents and elder sister Kate who was now a Dressmaker.

Like many men, Samuel entered the military to serve in the Great War.  He and his fellow colleagues working at the GPO may’ve seen the recruitment posters that would’ve been placed around their workplace and answered the call for recruits to join the Post Office Rifles.  Samuel served as Private/Rifleman with the 1st/8th Battalion, London Regiment.  The Battalion first arrived in France on 18 March 1915 and Samuel made the crossing in February 1916.  By the end of the war, 1,800 men from the Post Office Rifles lost their lives and approximately 4,500 were wounded.  Sadly, Samuel was one of the men who didn’t make it home.  He went missing in action and presumed dead on 21 May 1916.

According to the Army Register of Soldiers' Effects, the sum of £3 was granted to Samuel’s father.

For his service, Samuel was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

While there is no burial plot for Samuel, he is commemorated at Arras Memorial in the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery in France and here in Rectory Lane.  His name can also be found on the War Memorial outside St Peter’s Church.