Main CPGW Record
Surname: SMITH
Forename(s): Tom Harry
Place of Birth: Blackley, Lancashire
Service No: 322
Rank: Corporal
Regiment / Corps / Service: Machine Gun Guards
Battalion / Unit: 2nd Guards Brigade Machine Gun Coy
Division: Guards Division
Age: 25
Date of Death: 1917-10-11
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Panel 11.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: HIGH BENTHAM, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Tom Harry Smith was the son of Margaret Smith. Margaret (born at Holme, Westmorland), was married to Elijah McCann in 1908 and Tom became the step-brother of Private William McCann (q.v.).
1911 Caton, Lancashire Census: Wesley Road - Thomas Harry Smith, aged 18 years, born Blackley, Manchester, Lancashire. [Tom was boarding with Elizabeth Collinge, widow.]
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Tom H. Smith, 20504, G. Guards; Cpl. 322, Gds M.G. Regt. Theatre of War: (1) France. Qualifying date [for 1914-15 Star]: 5.10.15. Killed 11.10.17.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Cpl Tom Harry Smith, 20504, Gren Gds.; 322, Gds M.G. Bn. Killed 11.10.17.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Cpl Thomas Harry Smith, 322, 2 Coy M.G. Gds. Date and Place of Death: 11.10.17 in action Belgium. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Brother - Joseph. £9 10s. 7d. Brother - William. £9 10s. 7d. Step Father - Elijah McCann. £9 10s. 7d.
A short biography of Tom is included in: ‘Bentham’s Part in the Great War 1914-18’ by Allan and Marilyn Hartley (2019).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
SMITH, Corporal T.H., [Bentham], aged 25, Grenadier Guards, killed in action Oct. 11, 1917.
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Corporal Tom Harry SMITH
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Machine Gun Guards
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: Guards Division
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Tyne Cot Memorial
Courtesy of Allan Hartley, High Bentham
The High & Low Bentham men who gave their lives
Top row (l-r): Rfn Ernest Knight Newhouse, Pte John Thornber, Reverend Theodore Bayley Hardy, Pte Richard Wilson, Pte Maurice Richard Bolton, Lieut John Barclay Clibborn, Pte William Throup, Pte Richard Wilcock Carr, A/Cpl William Robinson, Pte James Auton, Pte William Savage. Third row (l-r): L/Cpl David Percival Dixon, Pte John Emmott, Pte Francis Richard Townson, Pte John Adamthwaite, Pte Robert Carter, L/Cpl John Hutchinson, Pte Alfred Edward Gunn, Pte Ezra Stephenson, Pte Edwin Rawlinson Smith, Pte Richard Wearing, Lieut Basil William Ramsbotton. Third row (l-r): Spr Robert Clark, Act L/Cpl Thomas Wilcock, Cpl William Carr, Pte Lawrence Lancelot Dowbiggin, Pte Edward Magoolagan, Pte Isaac Rucastle, Pte Henry Taylor, Cpl Edward Ramskill, L/Cpl Edward Walton Briscoe, Pte Joseph Jackson, Gnr Ernest Wilcock. Fourth row (l-r): Capt Donald Morrison, Sgt Arthur Dean Blackburn, Pte James William Bell, Pte Leonard Nelson, L/Cpl John Edward Leeming, L/Cpl Albert Lister, Pte Percy Preston Whitfield, Cpl Tom Harry Smith, Cpl Thomas Walker Sanderson, Sgt William Patrick Tobin, Pte (Signaller) W. Wilkinson.
Courtesy of the artist, David Hartnup
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View Craven Herald Articles
25 May 1917
HIGHER BENTHAM – On Leave
Private Robert Clark, of the R.E., is home on short leave from Newark, and Corpl. H. Smith, of the Grenadier Guards, is home on leave from France, and is staying with his stepfather, Mr. E. McCann, who has two sons at the Front. Pte. W. Bradley, of the R.A.M.C., is also on short leave.
02 November 1917
SMITH – October 11th 1917, killed in action on the Western Front, Corporal Tom Harry Smith, Grenadier Guards, son of Mrs. Smith, High Bentham, aged 25 years.
02 November 1917
HIGHER BENTHAM – TWO BENTHAM MEN KILLED
On Saturday morning news reached his mother that Corporal Tom Harry Smith, of the Grenadier Guards (Machine Gun) was killed in action on the 11th October. The deceased was well known at Bentham, having been some time ago in the employ of Mr. J.E. Dean, grocer, but was later in the goods warehouse at Miles Plating, Manchester, where he enlisted on the 20th October 1914 as a volunteer, and his brother, W. Smith, in the R.F.A. as a driver.
Two of the stepbrothers are serving in France. He was 25 years of age and over 6ft. On Saturday his mother received a letter from the Guards Record Office, dated October 22nd 1917, notifying the fact that Corporal Smith had been killed in action; also a message of sympathy from the King and Queen. The deceased’s stepfather, Mr. Elijah McCann, is an old Afghan campaigner.
The news also reached Mrs. Hannah Robinson of Main Street, Bentham, on Sunday that her youngest son, Corporal William Robinson of the West Riding Regiment, had been killed in action in France. The deceased was the youngest son of his widowed mother, and her main support, and was working for Messrs. George Angus and Co. when the orders came to that works that all single men had to join up. He went with others on the 8th July last year. According to a letter received by the mother, the fatality occurred in France on the 9th October 1917. The report is to the effect that he was killed in action.
16 November 1917
HIGHER BENTHAM – MEMORIAL SERVICE
The second memorial service for soldiers killed at the Front was held at St. Margaret’s Church on Sunday afternoon. The sacred edifice was well filled by parishioners of every shade of religious and political opinions. The Vicar (the Rev. G. H. C. Bartley) officiated, and the service was choral, commencing with the opening sentences of the burial service, chanted, as a processional with the Union Jack was carried in front, draped with violet. Between the lessons the choir gave the anthem, ‘I heard a voice from Heaven’ very beautifully, and the Vicar read out the names of the fifteen heroes who have laid down their lives from the parish, as well as the three who are missing, and supposed killed, as follows:– Captain D. Morrison; Private Ed. Magoolaghan; Lance Corporal Joe Jackson; Captain S. C. Bartley (the Vicar’s brother); Corporal E. Leeming; Private Tom Wilcock; Captain G. G. Eccles; Private Ezra Stevenson; Private Len Nelson; Captain Pollard; Private Percy Whitfield (N.Z.); Corporal Wm. Robinson; Corporal Harry Smith; Corporal R. Clarke (missing); Private Lancelot Dowbiggin; Private Ed. Briscoe; Private Edwin Smith.
As the names were read out many tears were shed at the memory of the loved ones ‘Gone West’. Then followed an excellent sermon by the Vicar from the words ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend’, at the conclusion of which Miss V. Stubbs played the ‘Dead March’ whilst the congregation remained standing. The recessional hymn was ‘For all the Saints’, and at the close the organist played ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ as a voluntary. The entire service was of a very impressive character.
04 October 1918
BENTHAM
Mrs. Margaret McCann, the wife of Mr. Elijah McCann, died at Cleveland Square on Saturday night rather suddenly in her 61st year. She lost a son [Cpl. Harry Smith, killed in action, 11 October 1917], who was in the Grenadiers, about three months ago, and this weighed very heavily on her spirits. Another son is fighting in Palestine, and two of her stepsons are in the Army, one having won the D.C.M. The funeral took place at St Margaret’s Church on Wednesday afternoon. The rector, Rev. Percy Coates, officiated, and a number of friends attended to pay tribute to the memory of deceased.
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View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
02 November 1917
SMITH – Killed in action, Oct. 11th, Corpl. Tom Harry Smith, of the Grenadier Guards (Machine Gun Guards), son of Mrs. Smith, of Bentham, aged 25.
02 November 1917
THREE MORE BENTHAM SOLDIERS KILLED
On Saturday morning last news reached his mother that Corpl. Tom Harry Smith, of the Grenadier Guards (Machine Gun Section), was killed in action on Oct. 11th. The deceased was well known at Bentham, having been some time ago in the employ of Mr. J. E. Dean, grocer, but later was in the goods warehouse at Miles Platting, Manchester, where he enlisted on Oct. 29th, 1914, as a volunteer. His brother, W. Smith, joined the R.F.A., as a driver. Two step-brothers [McCann] are also serving in France. He was 25 years of age, and stood over 6ft. The deceased’s step-father, Mr. Elijah McCann, is an old Afghan campaigner.
The news also reached Mrs. Hannah Robinson, of Main Street, Bentham, on Sunday morning, that her youngest son, Corpl. Wm. Robinson, of the West Riding Regiment, had been killed in action in France. The deceased soldier was the main support of his widowed mother, and was working at Messrs. George Angus and Co.’s when the order came that all single men had to join up. He went with others on July 5th last year to join up at Keighley.
The death in action of Pte. Percy Preston Whitfield took place in France on Oct. 9th last. He belonged to the New Zealanders, and joined the Auckland Infantry Regiment in November, 1916. He came over to England early this year for training, and paid a visit to his father, Mr. Francis Whitfield, in August last, when he had four days’ leave. He was well known at Bentham. and also resided with his father at Holden House, Westhouse, and at Bonsber, Clapham. He emigrated to New Zealand seven years ago, when his father retired from farming. He was the youngest of six sons, and was 38 years of age.
16 November 1917
BENTHAM
MEMORIAL SERVICE – The second memorial service for soldiers killed at the front was held at St. Margaret’s Church on Sunday afternoon last. The sacred edifice was well filled by parishioners of every shade of religious and political opinion, and the service was of a solemn and reverent character. The vicar (Rev. G.H.C. Bartley) officiated , and the service was choral. It commenced with the opening sentence of the burial service being chanted as a processional. The Union Jack was carried in front, draped with violets. Between the lessons the choir gave the anthem ‘I heard a voice from Heaven,’ and the Vicar read the names of the 15 dead men belonging to the parish who have laid down their lives, as well as of the three who are missing and supposed killed, viz., Capt. D. Morrison. Pte. Ed Magoolaghan, Lance-Corpl. Joe Jackson, Capt. S.C. Bartley (the Vicar’s brother), Corpl. B. Leeming, Capt. Pollard, Pte. Tom Wilcock, Capt. G.[C.] G. Eccles, Pte. Ezra Stevenson, Pte. Len Nelson, Pte. Percy Whitfield (N.Z.). Corpl. Wm. Robinson, Corpl. Harry Smith, Corpl R. Clark; missing, Pte. Lancelot Dowbiggin, Pte. Ed. Briscoe and Pte. Edwin Smith. Then followed an excellent sermon by the Vicar from the words “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.” At the conclusion of the sermon Miss V. Stubbs played the ‘Dead march,’ the congregation standing. The processional hymn was ‘For all the saints,’ and at the close the organist played ‘I knew that my Redeemer liveth.’ The service was of a very impressive character throughout.
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