Main CPGW Record
Surname: SMITH
Forename(s): Herbert Taylor
Place of Birth: Barnoldswick, Yorkshire
Service No: 11277
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 9th (Service) Battalion
Division: 17th (Northern) Division
Age: 27
Date of Death: 1918-02-14
Awards: M.I.D.
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Bay 6.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: EARBY, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Herbert Taylor Smith was the son of Agnes Smith the daughter of Robert and Jane Smith, née Hodgkinson. Agnes was born at Lancaster, Lancashire. Agnes married William Lord in 1902.
1891 Barnoldswick, Yorkshire Census: 23, Hill Street - Herbert T. Smith, aged 9 months, born Barnoldswick. [Herbert and his mother, Agnes, were living with her parents, Robert and Jane Smith.]
1901 Barnoldswick, Yorkshire Census: East Hill Street - Herbert T. Smith, aged 10 years, born Barnoldswick. [Herbert and his mother, Agnes, were living her mother, Jane Smith, widow.]
Herbert was married to Lily Wright in 1909.
1911 Barnoldswick, Yorkshire Census: 54, Westgate - Herbert Smith, aged 20 years, born Earby, Yorkshire, husband of Lily Smith.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Herbert T. Smith, 11277, W. Rid. Rgt. Theatre of War first served in: 1 - France [sic]. Date of entry therein: 2 July 1915. Ass. to have died 14.2.18. [Herbert first served at Gallipoli with the 8th (Service) Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).]
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Herbert Taylor Smith, 11277, 8th W. Rid. R.; 9th W. Rid. R. Pres. Dead 14.2.18.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Herbert Taylor Smith, 11277, 9th Bn W. Riding. Date and Place of Death: On or since 14.2.18. Death presd. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow - Lily. £20 0s. 0d.
Photograph courtesy of Mrs Doreen Turner.
See also:
‘Earby in the First World War’ by Stephanie Carter, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2014).
‘Our Finest Crop’ by Steven Marshall, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2020).
Data Source: Local War Memorial
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Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---
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Private Herbert Taylor SMITH
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 17th (Northern) Division
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Private Herbert Taylor Smith
Courtesy of Mrs Doreen Turner
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
17 September 1915
8th DUKE’S HARD HIT IN GALLIPOLI – Letters from Earby Lads
Private H. T. Smith, of the 8th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, in the Dardanelles, writing to his parents at 79, Colne Road, in reference to the recent severe fighting, says:– “We made an advance on the 22nd and 23rd, but I am sorry to say we paid very dearly for it. We were cut up terribly, and the worst part of it was that we lost a lot of Earby lads. Some of them I am afraid you will never see again. This is not civilised warfare, it is simply murder.
“It simply rained bullets and shrapnel, but I am still amongst the survivors. I was cut off from my regiment for three days, but I managed to fall in with the Munster Fusiliers, and I might here mention that my name has been sent in for burying dead under fire whilst with the Munsters. You will perhaps have heard of this before you get this letter. One of Clark’s from Earby got a bullet through the eye, and the other is wounded; Burrows is wounded; Stockdale, Aldridge, Cross, and T. Hargreaves (Barnoldswick) is missing. Sam Rigby is alive, but taken prisoner, so you may tell his mother not to be down-hearted, because I am confident he is all right. Grassington Joe is injured, shot through the leg.”
17 September 1915
AN ADVENTURE AT A WELL
Private James Walsh, another Earby soldier attached to the same regiment, writes:– “We have been in some stiff “doss,” and have suffered heavily. We have 320 left in our Battalion out of 1,000. Our Brigade has done very well, but we have paid the cost. The General says he wishes he had all his Yorkshire lads back. Our brigade has been in front during all the big advances, and that is a big honour. I am afraid H. Burrows is badly, wounded. I am doing very well now on bully beef and biscuits and tea. Water is most difficult to get.
“I went out at five o’clock on Sunday morning the 22nd, to try and find water for myself and pals and found some about 200 yards away. Before five o’clock the same afternoon there were about 80 of our men shot down going to that well and we could, see them all. It was rotten. We had a service on the beach last night and we sang the hymn ‘Lead Kindly Light.’ It takes a good deal to move me but that did it. Just as I am finishing this letter H. T. Smith has come in after being missing three days.”
Mrs. Burrows, Brook Terrace, mother of the Private H. Burrows, referred to above, received an intimation a week ago that her son was in hospital at Malta.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
17 September 1915
EARBY LADS WITH THE 8th DUKE OF WELLINGTON’S
News of Comrades
Private James Walsh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Walsh of 79 Colne Road, Earby, who is in the 8th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, has written home some interesting war-jottings, in which he says:– “You will find me a different lad if I get home again. We have been in some stiff ‘does’ and have suffered heavily, 320 being left out of 1000 of us. Our brigade has done very well, but we have paid the cost. The General says he wished he had all his Yorkshire lads back. Our Brigade has been in front on all the big advances, and that is a big honour. I am afraid H. Burrows is badly wounded. I went out of the dug-out in the trenches at five o’clock on Sunday, the 22nd, to find water for myself and pals. I found some about 200 yards away. Before five at night there had been about thirty shot down going to that well, and we could see them all. It was rotten. Never mind, I have come through so far, and I may come through all right at the end. We had a service on the beach last night, and we sang the hymn, ‘Lead, kindly light’. Well it takes a bit to move me, but that made me cry. I have prayed above once. As I am finishing this letter H.T. Smith has just come in, having been missing three days. R. Hewtson, E. Smith, J.T. Illingworth, H.T. Smith, H. Spencer (tackler), L. Trotter and J. Walsh are all well. Both Clarkes are wounded.”
Another Earby lad, Private N[H].T. Smith, of the same regiment in the Dardanelles, writes:–“We made an advance on the 22nd and 23rd, but I am sorry to say we paid very dearly for it. We were cut up terribly, and the worst part of it was that we lost a lot of Earby lads. Some of them, I am afraid, you will never see again. This is not civilised warfare; it is simply murder. It simply rained bullets and shrapnel, but I am still amongst the survivors. I was cut off from my regiment for three days, but I managed to fall in with the Munster Fusiliers, and I might mention here that my name has been sent in for being dead whilst under fire with the Munsters. You will perhaps have heard of this before you get my letter. One of the Clarkes from Earby got a bullet through the eye, and another is wounded. Burrows is wounded. Stockdale, Aldridge, Cross, and T. Hargreaves of Barnoldswick are missing. Sam Rigby is alive but taken prisoner, so you may tell his mother not to be downhearted, because I am confident he is alright.
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