Lance Bombardier
Royal Garrison Artillery | 74379 | 152 Siege Battery |
Photos courtesy Peter Robinson
Biography
Lawrence, born in 1887, was the son of Samuel Smith and Annie. Samuel was publican at the Bull’s Head on Cromford Road, Crich. Lawrence attested in February 1916 at Ripley, aged twenty-eight, an unmarried grocer’s warehouseman. In April 1916 he was admitted into the Military Hospital, Great Yarmouth, suffering from influenza. He entered France in August 1916, was appointed Lance Bombardier in January 1919 and demobbed the following March. He married Hilda O Robinson in 1920 September qtr (Belper reg district)
You can see the Bulls Head pub sign on the left. Lawrence's father was publican here.
Army Service Record
He attested on 22/02/16 at Ripley aged 28 years 4 months, an unmarried grocer's warehouseman. His address was near church Crich. He was 5ft 10½in tall, weighed 154lb and the next of kin was his father, Samuel Smith of Crich.
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
22/02/16 Attested
08/04/16 to 30/08/16 Home
22/04/16 to 28/04/16 Hospital with influenza (Military Hospital Great Yarmouth)
31/08/16 Folkestone to Boulogne
11/12/17 Leave to UK with RA
21/11/18 Attached RGA Canteen
29/11/18 to 13/12/18 Leave to UK
12/01/19 Appointed acting paid Lance Bombadier
08/02/19 Admitted hospital
17/02/19 Discharged to duty
29/03/19 Discharged
His brother William Edward Smith also served during WW1 but is not on the Crich Roll of Honour as he did not reside in Crich when the family moved here from Alvaston.
1891: Baker Street, Alvaston and Boulton
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jemima | Smith | Head | 60 | Laundress | Alvaston |
James | Smith | son | 24 | Plate M railway labourer | Alvaston |
William Austin | Smith | son | 22 | blacksmith | Alvaston |
Annie | Smith | daughter-in-law | 27 | Alvaston | |
Lawrence Henry | Smith | g.son | 3 | Alnaston |
RG12 piece 2722 folio 9 page 11
1901: Baker Street, Alvaston and Boulton
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Samuel | Smith | Head | 38 | Gas labourer | Alvaston |
Annie | Smith | wife | 27 | Derby | |
James | Smith | son | 18 | Fitters labourer | Alvaston |
Laurence | Smith | son | 13 | Errand boy | Alvaston |
May | Smith | son | 9 | Living on own means | Alvaston |
Gertie | Smith | daughter | 6 | Alvaston | |
Lilian | Smith | daughter | 3mo | Alvaston |
RG13 piece 3207 folio page
1911: Bull's Head, Crich
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Samuel | Smith | Head | 48 | Publican | Derby |
Annie | Smith | wife | 46 | Derby | |
Lawrence | Smith | son | 23 | Grocer's assistant | Derby |
Lilian | Smith | daughter | 10 | School | Derby |
RG14PN20984 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED13 SN185
1918 Crich voters
Lawrence Henry Smith, Bulls Head Inn; absent on military service.
1939 Register: Jubilee Avenue, Ripley
Lawrence H Smith
b.2 October 1887; provisions shop manager
Hilda O Smith b.21 September 1896
Averil E Smith b. 18 October 1925; school
one closed record