Pte 51706 Thomas Smith

• Age: 27
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Thomas was born in late 1892 in Liverpool. His parents Thomas and Ann Smith (nee Guppy) had married on 16th June 1877 in the Parish Church, Canton, Cardiff. By 1882 the parents had moved from Cardiff to Salford, and by 1892 to Liverpool. Thomas was their only son, he had older sisters Louise, Ethel, Bertha, and Annie, and younger sister Rhoda.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 74 Brae Street, Liverpool. His father, Thomas, is aged 46, a compositor overseer born in Bridgwater, Somerset, his mother, Ann, is aged 46 and born in Cardiff. They have six children, Louise 22 a tramway clerk born in Cardiff, Ethel 20 a type distributor also born in Cardiff, Bertha aged 18and Annie 14 were both born in Manchester, Thomas aged 8 and Rhoda 7 were born in Liverpool. 

His father died aged 52 in 1908.

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 20 Clarendon Road, Egremont. His mother Annie, is a widow aged 56, and of independent means, is the householder, children Louise 32 a tramway clerk, Ethel 30 at home, Bertha 28 a fruit store manageress, Annie 24 a telephonist, Thomas is 18, a clerk for Tramways, Rhoda is 17. They have a boarder William E. Birtwistle 30 a fruit wholesaler.

Thomas enlisted in Liverpool as Rifleman 5152 joining the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He embarked from Folkestone-Boulogne on 29th July 1916, reaching the 24th Infantry Base Depot on 30th July 1916. He proceeded to 17th Battalion K.L.R. on 07th August and was posted to No.3 Coy of the 19th Battalion K.L.R. from 05th September 1916 as Private No 51706.

He was reported wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post, 11 May 1917.

Liverpool R. - Smith 51706 T. (Liscard); 

Thomas was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918, aged 25, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day gives an insight into the events of the day. 

29 April 1918 

A 3 a.m. the Enemy opened up a very heavy Bombardment of High explosive and Gas shells on our covering Artillery and at 6 a.m.. launched a powerful attack , smothering our outpost line, but failing to pierce the Battalion front, being repulsed with heavy loss. At 8 a.m. the Enemy again attacked but was repulsed. Many Casualties were caused to him during the day, as numbers of the enemy were picked off as they endeavoured to get back to their own lines. 

Casualties were Capt E B Hough Killed, 2nd Lt W. Munro Killed and 12 Other Ranks Killed, 28 Wounded and 13 Other Ranks missing"

He has no known grave and 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.

Soldiers Effects to mother Ann, sister Mrs Louise Birtwistle, bother-in-law William E. Birtwistle, sisters Ethel, Bertha, Mrs Annie Parry, Pension to mother Ann, 246 Liscard Rd, Wallasey.

His mother died, aged 81, in the December quarter of 1936. 

Grateful thanks are extended to Kevin Shannon the author of the book The Liverpool Rifles for providing details of Thomas' service with the 6th Rifles.
  
We currently have no further information on Thomas Smith, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.