Pte 90932 Eric Walter Smith

• Age: 19
• From: Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Eric Walter was born on 24th November 1898 in Ashton-under-Lyne and was the son of Robert and Joan/Johanna Mason (nee Nisbet) Smith, of 33, Mill Lane, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancs. His parents married on the 26th Dec 1888 at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Portadown, Ireland. Robert was a traveller living in Lurgan, his father Robert was a foreman in a linen factory, Joan Mason was living in Portadown, her father Janus was a gas manager.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 42 Romney Street, Ashton-under-Lyne.

Eric is two years of age and lives with his parents and three elder siblings. His father, Robert, is a watchmaker born in Ireland in 1861, whilst his mother Joan M. was born in Scotland in 1867. Eric's two sisters were born in Ireland; Euphemia K. in 1890 and Margaret G. in 1892. The family have moved to Ashton when their first son Robert C. is born in 1895.
      
Eric was admitted to Ashton Grammar School in 1910.

His brother Robert C. died in the same year aged 15

The 1911 Census shows the family living at Moor End, Mottram Road, Stalybridge, Cheshire.

Both parents are resident, his father's birthplace is Londonderry and his mother's as Midlothian, Edinburgh. They have been married for 22 years and have had 4 children of whom one has died. Eric is 11 and at school whilst his two sisters are still at home Euphemia Kathleen is now 21 and employed as a typist whilst Margaret Gibb is 19 and a Confectioner's assistant. Both girls were born in Lurgan, Ireland.     

Eric enlisted in Ashton-Under-Lyne and was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 90932 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 19 during the German Spring Offensive. Details of the action were recorded in the battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

29^th – At 3.30 a.m. heavy enemy bombardment opened, followed later (9.00 a.m.) by enemy attack and our line was forced back to G.H.Q.1 where I organised and held on to the position. The enemy got through on both flanks practically surrounding 2 of my companies. ‘A’ company was actually surrounded and after severe fighting were captured.

Eric Walter has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Remembered on the memorial for LONDON COUNTY WESTMINSTER & PARRS BANK, ASHTON UNDER LYNE (PARR'S) BRANCH, (WW1) located inside the Natwest Bank 28 Warrington St, Ashton-under-Lyne. https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/251841

Inscription:

In memory of the following members of the staff of this branch who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1918:

Names:

William H Halfpenny; Eric W Smith; Frederick Wilkinson

Manchester Evening News 23rd May 1918

Pte Eric Walter Smith, King's Liverpool Regiment, son of Mr Robert Smith, jeweller, Mill Lane, Ashton, killed, was a clerk at Messrs. Parr's Bank, Ashton.

Eric earned two medals; British War Medal and Victory Medal. 

Soldiers Effects and Pension to father Robert, "The Grove", Currier Lane, Ashton-under-Lyne

The mother died in 1917 aged 49.

We currently have no further information on Eric Walter Smith, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.