Pte 57572 Joseph Fawns Smith

• Age: 20
• From: Dundee
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Neuville-vitasse Rd Cem
  Panel Ref: A.24

Joseph Fawns Smith was born in Dundee, in 1896, the son of John Stevens Smith and his wife, Margaret, (née Fawns) who were married on the 28th July 1890. His father was born in Dundee, and his mother in Lochee, a northwest suburb. They had seven surviving children; Joseph had older siblings Davina, born in 1892 and John 1895, and a younger brother David 1899 (birth dates approximate).  All children appear to have their mother’s maiden name Fawns as a middle name. 

At the time of the 1901 census the family is living at 3 Pitfour Street, off City Road, Dundee.  The address is a four-story building, it is still standing today, as an apartment building. His father John S. is 32, a hairdresser, his mother Margaret F. is 33,  Davina is 9, John 6, Joseph is 4, and David 2, all listed with middle initial F. 

Unfortunately, the 1911 Scotland census is not available.  Three daughters were born after the census:  Mary Fawns 1904, Elizabeth Fawns 1906, and Christina Strachan 1907.

Joseph enlisted in Dundee; the amount of the War Gratuity suggests he enlisted in about March 1916.  A later newspaper notice states that he initially served in a Cyclist corps, but SDGW gives no previous regiment.  The Scottish National War Memorial, which shows both the Scottish regiment in which a man served as well as the English regiment in which he died, only shows the K.L.R.  His regimental number, however, is consistent with those of a draft of Cyclists to the Liverpool Pals battalions.

He was serving with the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 57572 when he was killed in action on 09th April 1917. This was the opening day of the Battle of Arras. 

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded. 

Joseph now rests at Neuville Vitasse Road Cemetery in France.

His family placed a notice in the same edition of the Dundee People's Journal on 5th May 1917:

“Killed in action on the 9th April, Pte. Joseph F. Smith, in his 21st year, King’s Liverpool Reg’t., (late Cyclists), second surviving son of John Smith, hairdresser.

  The country called, and he was there,

    To do his bit and take his share;

  His heart was good, his spirit brave,

    His resting place a soldier’s grave.

• Inserted by the family.” 

His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £3-10s went to his father John.  The pension card in the name of his father, at 26 Peddie Street, Dundee, does not show the amount awarded.  He later moved to Newburgh, Fife, on the south bank of the Tay 17 miles southwest of Dundee, where he lived at 29 High Street.  A notation on the pension card suggests he may have died in 1927. 

Joseph is commemorated on the following memorials -

Dundee Roll of Honour

Scottish National War Memorial 

His father died in the March quarter of 1927, aged 58.

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