Wilfred SMITH

02 August 1918

WOUNDED AND MISSING

Enquiries through the Red Cross Society have elicited information that Private Wilfred Smith, Leicester Regiment (missing since May 27th) is a prisoner of war and not wounded. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Smith, 1, Albion Road, Earby.

17 January 1919

EARBY – DIED A PRISONER

Private Wilfred Smith Leicester Regiment son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Smith, Albion Road, Earby is reported to have died a prisoner in German hands on November 13th. He was 20 years of age. Private Smith was captured on May 27th last, and his parents received the first letter from him three weeks before the Armistice was signed, saying he was in hospital but going on very nicely. The news of his death came from a repatriated prisoner (Corporal J. Stark, of Hull) who had been in the same hospital. He writes:– “Your dear son died at Morlanwelz, near Mons, from dysentery. He was admitted to hospital at the latter end of August at St. Quentin and we slept next each other. He was suffering very badly from dysentery and died in November, after tuberculosis had set in. I am sorry I cannot remember the exact date. I was bedfast with the same complaint for five months, and laid three weeks before I received any treatment from the dirty swine… This is the first opportunity I have had of writing you, so please accept my deepest sympathy in your bereavement. He died two days after the Armistice was signed, and is buried in the cemetery at Morlanwelz. There is a cross on his gave with his name on.”

27 June 1919

EARBY PRISONER’S DEATH IN GERMANY

Official confirmation of the death (previously announced in our columns) of Private Wilfred Smith (Leicestershire Regiment) while a prisoner in Germany, has been received from the War Office by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Smith, 1 Albion Road, Earby. Pte. Smith was captured in May, 1918, and died in a German hospital on November 13th, two days after the armistice, within a month of his 20th birthday. In a letter received from him in October last he stated that he had been very ill, but was recovering, and looking forward to being back in “old Blighty.” The first news of his death came from a Hull comrade, whose letter hinted at gross neglect on the part of the German hospital attendants. Pte. Smith was formerly employed by Messrs. A. J. Birley, Ltd. His photo has already appeared in our columns.

07 November 1919

SMITH – In loving memory of Pte. Wilfred Smith. 2nd Leicestershire Regt., who died in a German Hospital Camp, Nov. 13th, 1918, aged 19 years.

One lonely year has passed away
Since one we loved was called away;
The loss is great, the shock severe
To part with one we loved so dear.
Just when his life was brightest,
Just when his days were best,
He was called from a world of sorrow
To a home of eternal rest.

From Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers, 1 Albion Road, Earby; also Betty and George [,] Colne.