Pte 300380 Ernest Smith

• Age: 22
• From: Widnes, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 7th May 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Ernest Smith was born in the September quarter of 1895 in Widnes  the son of Herbert Smith and his wife Hannah (nee Smith) who married in the September quarter of 1887 at St Thomas' Church, Eccleston.

On the 1901 Census Ernest is 5 years of age and is living with his parents and four siblings at 56 Terrace Rd, Widnes. His father is a 35 year old labourer born in St Helens, whilst his mother is 33 years of age and was born in Runcorn. His siblings were all born in Widnes and are listed as; ElizabethE. aged 13, William H. aged 11, Arthur aged 7 and Robert aged 1. Also present is Harry A. Jones listed as brother in law.   

By the time of the 1911 Census Ernest is 15, and described as a labourer in a soap manufacturer. He lives with his parents and eight siblings at 40 Viaduct Street, Widnes. Both parents are present in the household and state that they have been married for 24 years and have had eleven children of whom two have sadly died. Ernest's siblings are shown as: Elizabeth Ellenaged 23, William Herbert aged 21 and a bricklayer/labourer for a soap manufacturer, Arthur aged 17 also a labourer at a soap mmanufacturer,  Robert is 11, Charles 8, Hannah 6, Florence 4 and Edith 2.   

Ernest was educated at the Trinity Primitive Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Sunday School and Choir as well as being a member of the Sons of Temperance and the Temperance Friendly Society. Prior to the war he was employed at Craig’s Timber Yard in West Bank, Widnes.

He enlisted in Warrington in August 1914 joining the Lancashire Hussars as Private 250284. He was part of the transfer of 290 men from the Lancashire Hussars to the King's Liverpool Regiment on 24th September 1917. He then served in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 300380. He was killed in action on the 07th May 1918, aged 22. 

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

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.

A local newspaper reported his death in May 1918 as Lance Corpl. Ernest Smith:

"In December 1913, with his brother Arthur, he joined the Lancashire Hussars of Yeomanry, who were under the command of Lord Gerard, and trained weekly at Rainhill, but practised riding at the school at St Helens. On the outbreak of war the Hussars were mobilised. It was some weeks before the arrangements for their equipment were completed, but ultimately they were sent to Canterbury for the Divisional training. On November 9, 1915, they left England for France. As the war developed into trench warfare there was little opportunity for their work as cavalry, and consequently they were frequently called upon to do infantry duty in the trenches. Afterwards they merged into a unit of the King's Liverpool Regiment. It was whilst serving in this regiment that he met his death. His soldierly bearing and good conduct won for him the lasting affection and esteem of officers and men alike. He was employed in civil life at Craig's timber yard. The sympathy of a wide circle of friends is extended to the family in there double loss. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Church on Sunday evening".

Ernest's loss was not the only one that the family had to suffer as his elder brother, Serjeant William Smith, of the 1/4th South Lancashire Regiment was killed in action on 19th March 1918. William now rests at Choques Military Cemetery, in France. 

Ernest and William Herbert are commemorated on the War Memorial at St Mary’s Church in West Bank, Widnes.

Soldiers Effects to father Herbert, Pension to mother, Hannah and  father, Herbert. 

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