CRICH PARISH
Crich, Fritchley, Whatstandwell, Bullbridge, Crich Carr, Coddington, Wheatcroft, Wakebridge
Henry Victor Smith (1897–1986)
Sapper
| Royal Engineers | 224279 | Signalling Service |
Courtesy Hilary Welby
Biography
Henry was born in 1897 – his father was a respected farmer and building contractor. During the war he served with the signalling service of the Royal Engineers. He arrived home on leave from Germany in 1917 and 1919. After the war his family arranged for the rood screen to be returned and replaced in St Mary’s church, Crich, in honour of the safe return of Henry and his brother Norman. He worked with the family firm after the war, moving to Woodside Farm after his marriage to Edith Robinson in 1927. He then took over the tenancy of Barn Close Farm, Fritchley where he stayed until 1954, when he moved to Birchwood Farm, Longway Bank.
Postcard of the Rood Screen in St Mary's Church, Crich
Medal Roll Index Cards
Henry was awarded the
Victory and British War medals.
Newspaper reports
Derbyshire Courier , 29 December 1917
A feature of the holiday has been the unusually large number of local soldiers who have been fortunate in securing Christmas leave. The list includes Sgt C. Mason, from Ecclesall (Staffs), convalescent home; Private J W Heathcote, A S C (Mechanical Transport), from France; and driver William Coleman, France – the two latter were over together just a year ago – and Sapper Hy V. Smith in the Signalling Service, R.E., who came from France on Monday, after eight months across the Channel. Driver Jas H Dawes, Driver James Bingham, Lance Corporal W Hallam, Cpl Jas Holmes, and Bugler William Hartshorne have also been over on leave. The latter, who is staying with Mr A Buckley, of Park Head, is attached to the Canadian Forces. Along with his parents he emigrated from Park Head, Crich, to the Dominion before the war, and like his brother, Tom, he enlisted in the Canadians during the earlier stages of the war.
Derbyshire Courier, 28 June 1919
Amongst the Crich soldiers presently on leave are Privates
Guy V. Else, son of Mr C.J. Else, Park Lodge, Fritchley and Harry V. Smith, son of Mr J.R. Smith, Roe's Lane, Crich. Both have come from Germany.
Henry Smith's brother Norman Smith is also on the Roll of Honour.
CENSUS INFORMATION
1901: Crich
| Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Roe | Smith | Head | 48 | Wheelwright & Farmer | Crich |
| Annie Elizabeth | Smith | wife | 44 | Ilkeston | |
| Florence Elizabeth | Smith | daughter | 22 | School teacher | Crich |
| George | Smith | son | 21 | Wheelwright | Crich |
| Mary | Smith | daughter | 16 | Crich | |
| Alice Maud | Smith | daughter | 14 | Crich | |
| Joseph | Smith | son | 12 | Crich | |
| Elsie | Smith | daughter | 9 | Crich | |
| Norman | Smith | son | 7 | Crich | |
| Henry Victor | Smith | son | 3 | Crich |
RG13 piece 3231 folio 31 page 7
1911: Folds Yard, Crich
| Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Roe | Smith | Head | 58 | Farmer | Crich |
| Annie Elizabeth | Smith | wife | 54 | Ilkeston | |
| Mary | Smith | daughter | 26 | Dairy work | Crich |
| Alice Maud | Smith | daughter | 24 | Dressmaker | Crich |
| Joseph | Smith | son | 22 | Farmers son | Crich |
| Elsie | Smith | daughter | 18 | Farmers daughter | Crich |
| Norman | Smith | son | 17 | Joiners apprentice | Crich |
| Henry Victor | Smith | son | 13 | Crich | |
| Dora Annie | Smith | daughter | 9 | Crich |
RG14PN20985 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED14 SN125
1918 Crich voters
Henry Victor Smith, Ashbourne House; absent on military service.