Pte 52909 Edward Francis Smith

• Age: 20
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 21st December 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Road South, Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: III.O.4

Edward Francis Smith was the son of Edward Smith and his wife Elizabeth Emma (nee Knight), who were married at St.John's R.C. Church, Kirkdale, in 1892. He was born at 36 Oxton Street, Walton on the 09th October 1897 and was baptised at St.Francis de Sales R.C. Church, Walton on the 17th October 1897.

The family were still living at 36 Oxton Street at the time of the 1901 census. Edward is 3 years of age and is living with his parents and two sisters. His father is shown as a 38 year old mariner born at Conception Bay, Newfoundland, whilst his mother is 29 and was born in Liverpool. His sisters are recorded as; Mary, born 1895, and Florence Louisa, born 1900.

The 1911 census, taken when the family lived in Delamore Street, Kirkdale, indicates that Edward had a younger brother, John Cyril born in 1902. His two sisters, Mary and Florence Louisa are in the household.

Edward enlisted in Bootle, possibly in March 1915, joining the 7th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 4216 before he was transferred to the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 52909.

He died of wounds on 21st December 1917, aged 20, and he now rests at Menin Road South, Military Cemetery in Belgium.

The Menin Road ran east and a little south from Ypres (now Ieper) to a front line which varied only a few kilometres during the greater part of the war. The position of this cemetery was always within the Allied lines. It was first used in January 1916 by the 8th South Staffords and the 9th East Surreys, and it continued to be used by units and Field Ambulances until the summer of 1918. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from isolated positions on the battlefields to the east and the following cemetery:-

MENIN ROAD NORTH MILITARY CEMETERY was on the North side of the road at almost the same point. It was used by the units and Field Ambulances of another Corps from May 1915 to August 1916, and again to a small extent in 1917 and 1918. It contained the graves of 130 soldiers from the United Kingdom, three from Canada, and three from Newfoundland.

There are now 1,657 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 118 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials are erected to 24 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. In addition, there are special memorials to 54 casualties who were buried in Menin Road North Military Cemetery, whose graves were probably destroyed by shell fire and could not be found. These are numbered between 1 and 57.

The Royal Canadian Regiment and the Royal Highlanders of Canada set up wooden memorials in this cemetery to their dead in the Battle of Mount Sorrel, June 1916 (these were removed when the cemetery was constructed).

The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Edward was treated for his wounds at a New Zealand Field Ambulance. The soldier who treated Edward took the time to write to his mother in order to let her know about his last hours. 

France Dec 21st 1917  

Dear Mrs Smith,

I expect 'ere you receive this, you will have heard the sad news of your son's death.  He was brought into the Field Ambulance, after having been attended to at other posts with several wounds and compound fracture of the leg. Everything that was possible was done for him, wounds etc dressed by skilfull surgeon, hot water bottles etc to keep him warm, but unfortunately he was beyond our aid. He passed away very peacefully after being here a few hours.

You may wonder who is wrting to you, I am a Private in No.3 New Zealand Field Ambulance but Liverpool is my original home, which City I left five years ago. Naturally, I take an interest in all the boys that come from that part of the world.

I know it will be a terrible blow to you but you have this consolation that he had every care, surgical skill and attention that it was possible to give in the last moments of his life.You have my deepest sympathy and more especially at this time of the year. I hope that God will give you health and strength to bear the sad loss.

With deepest sympathy to all his loved ones 

I remain,

Yours sincerely

3/1720 Private A. O. Richardson
No.3 N.Z. Field Amb.

To the mother of
Private E F Smith
520909 

I know you will have a lot to do, writing etc, but when you can I shall be pleased to receive a P.C. just to let me know this has reached you as I feel sure you will be relieved, knowing the details of his death.     

His widowed mother who was living at 27 Antonio Street, Bootle, at the time of Edward's death, did receive the letter. It has stayed in the family as a treasured, priceless family heirloom.  

A report on Edward's death appeared in the Liverpool Echo on the 8th January 1918 under the heading.

A WALTON PRIVATE 

Private E.F. Smith, K.L.R., died on December 21. He was educated at St.Francis de Sales School, Walton, and he had resided with his mother at

27, Antonio-street, Bootle. He had been in France for one year and nine months, when he was wounded and sent down to the New Zealand

Ambulance hospital. He lingered for only a few hours.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his mother Elizabeth Emma.

His mother received Edward's British War and Victory medals on the 08th May 1922. 

Edward Francis Smith is commemorated on the Bootle Civic Memorial.

We are very grateful to Edward's family for allowing us to share this story especially to his nephew Edward Hodson who kindly gave us a copy of the letter. The letter was read on BBC Radio Merseyside as part of an Armistice Day programme. The sheer quality of the man who took the time, effort and care to write such a letter on the same night as Eward passed away moved me to write to a New Zealand research group to establish what happened to Mr Richardson. They advised me that he survived the war and they sent, with family permission, a copy of the letter to display in the Auckland Museum and to place a copy on Mr Richardson's records for people to see and appreciate it. They in turn sent me some details as to Mr Richardson which is shown below:

Arthur Oswald Richardson survived the war and lived until 1942. They provided me with a copy of his obituary which was in the Wellington Evening Post which is reproduced below: 

Mr A.O. Richardson, who for the past 30 years controlled the business of J. Murray and Co. Adelaide Road, died at his residence in Island Bay recently. Mr Richardson was born in Liverpool 62 years ago and came to New Zealand in 1912. For many years he was connected with the St. John Ambulance Brigade and he was assistant commissioner in charge of the Wellington District for a lengthy period. His outstanding service was rewarded by the bestowal of honours of the order. He was a foundation member and served for several years on the Free Ambulance Board, and was also interested in Free Masonry, being a Past Master of Russell Lodge. During the last war he served overseas with the No.3 Field Ambulance. He leaves a widow, a daughter and two sons.        

Further pathos, if  any were needed, was provided when Edward Hodson the nephew of Edward Smith recalled that a photograph of Edward had pride of place at his Nana's house. She would take great pride in it and would kiss it every day, saying my Eddie at the same time.  

We currently have no further information on Edward Francis Smith, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.