Cpl 17227 Ernest Smith

• Age: 21
• From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 13th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Ernest Smith was born on the 27^th December, 1894 in Birkenhead and baptised on the 23^rd January, 1895 at St Anne’s Church, Birkenhead. He was the son of William Smith and his wife Maud (nee Fowler) of 26 Raffles Road, Birkenhead. His parents married 1889 at St Anne's Church, Birkenhead.

On the 1901 census the family are living at 26 Cavendish Street, Birkenhead. His father, William, is aged 33 and employed as a foreman ships smith, his mother ,Maud, is  33 years of age and was born in Birkenhead. Their children are listed as; Charles H. 10 born in Birkenhead, Frederick W. 8 born in Birkenhead, Ernest 6 born in Birkenhead. Also present is his father's brother Alfred 25 a clerk in a boatyard b.Birkenhead.

Ernest was educated at St Saviour’s School, Oxton and was for many years a member of the choir. He was a well known figure in local sporting circles, being a member of the Birkenhead Y.M.C.A. Football Club and Gymnasium and also a Leasowe Campor.  Prior to the war he was a respected official at Quaker Oats Company, Liverpool Branch.  

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 26 Raffles Road, Birkenhead. His father, Thomas, is aged 43, born 1868 in Liverpool and is a foreman shipsmith, his mother, Maud is aged 43, born 1868 in Birkenhead as were all of her five children, who are listed as; Charles Herbert aged 20, born 1891 is a ship plater, Frederick William is aged 18, born 1893 occupation boot builder, Ernest is aged 16, and his occupation is as a junior clerk, Edna Maud is aged 9, born 1902 and Norman Fowler is aged 6, born 1905.

He enlisted on the 31st August, 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 17227. He gave his age as 19 years and 9 months and his occupation as a clerk. He was 5 foot 5 and quarter inches tall, weighed 135lbs, was of a fresh complexion, had brown eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

07.11.15: Embarked for France with his Battalion.

28.01.16: Wounded in action in arm and shoulder.

30.01.16: Resumed duty.

04.01.16: Appointed Unpaid Corporal.

02.07.16: Appointed Acting Corporal.

07.07.16: Confirmed in rank as Corporal.

21.07.16: Reported sick to Field ambulance.

26.07.16: Resumed duty.

15.08.16: Attached to 30^th Div Infantry School.

02.09.16: resumed duty on return from 30th Div.

He was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Corporal No 17227 when he was killed in action on the 13th October 1916, aged 21, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

In a letter to his parents, his Lieutenant wrote:

“It was a terrible blow indeed to us all when your son was killed and such men as him are getting scarce now, he had such a splendid character, always displayed a supreme devotion to duty, Death was instantaneous and I was wounded by the same shell. “

Ernest's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.” 

He was reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post 11th November 1916 -

Smith 17227 E. Cpl. (Birkenhead);

Soldiers Effects to father William, Pension to mother Maud, 13 Hawarden Ave, Claughton.

He is also commemorated on the Birkenhead war Memorial, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead.