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Corporal WILLIAM HENRY CHARD SMALE, R.M.L.I. PO/8596, Corporal Musician, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Age 38 Died 18.7.1918
Corporal, WILLIAM HENRY CHARD SMALE, R.M.L.I., was a member of the Royal Marine Light Infantry Band. He had been a member of the R.M.L.I. since
he had joined whilst a boy. He had served in the Boer War, and in India. His home barracks were those at Forton Road, Gosport. His unit had been serving in France, he had been wounded during an attack on
a German stronghold, which had been causing heavy casualties amongst his fellow soldiers. He was one of thirty men who launched a determined rush at the pillbox.
He was hit in the leg and thigh, the units war diary discloses that he continued to fire his rifle at the stronghold, two men who had managed to
get to the side of the German pill box, threw two grenades through the gun slit, the stronghold had been silenced. Six men were killed nine wounded, of which Corporal Smale was one. He was treated in
France and his condition improved, he was brought back to this country and admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Gosport. After several weeks he was released to Forton Barracks. Sadly secondary
infection set into his wounds, he was taken to Haslar for further treatment, but developed blood poisoning, as a result of which he died on the 18th of July 1918.
Corporal, WILLIAM HENRY CHARD SMALE, R.M.L.I., was buried on the 23rd of July 1918, with full service honours, and is laid to rest, Plot 38
Space 56, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
Private FREDERICK SMITH 46539, Private, 17th (Res.) Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry. Age 36 Died 24.3.1915
Private FREDERICK SMITH, was the son of the late Serjt J. Smith and the late Mary Ann Lancaster (formerly Smith), who lived at No. 50 Richmond
Road, Gosport. He was serving with the Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry, which was part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Was at home, he was awaiting his mobilisation. He had continued to
work in his civilian employment. He caught a cold, which developed into pneumonia, from which he never recovered, passing away on the 24th March 1915. Private FREDERICK SMITH, was buried on the 29th
March 1915, and is laid to rest, Plot 139 Space 5. A CWG headstone commemorates him.
Gunner HERBERT HENRY SMITH, R.G.A. 195098, Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery. Age 26 Died 11.9.1918
Gunner HERBERT HENRY SMITH, Royal Garrison Artillery, was serving with the Anti Aircraft Depot unit, at Fort Monckton. He was billeted in the
Monckton Hutment’s, housed in the former Detention Barracks wing. He was another serviceman who was out in all weathers, during the nighttime. Gunner Smith, went down with a cold, this turned into
a chesty condition, he developed breathing difficulties, suffering from pneumonia. He died on the 11th of November 1918, as a result of contracting the ‘Spanish Flu’ epidemic, which raged
throughout war torn Europe. Somewhere in the region of a million people died after becoming infected. Gunner HERBERT HENRY SMITH, R.G.A., was laid to rest, Plot 38 Space 75, and is commemorated by a CWG
headstone.
Marine FRANK WILLIAM SMITH, R.M. PO/X 2664, Marine, Royal Marines. Age 20 Died
16.11.1940
Marine FRANK WILLIAM SMITH, Royal Marines, was the son of Guy James and Olive Jane, who lived at No. 7 Millpond Road, Gosport. Marine Smith
passed away on Saturday 16th November 1940, at Glasgow Hospital, Scotland, as a result of wounds received during the heavy air raids on the dock’s area. Marine Smith was struck by shrapnel, when a
bomb exploded on the opposite side of the road. Grievously wounded, he was taken to hospital, where he died on the operating table, during an operation to remove the shrapnel. His death certificate had
to be issued by the Coroner’s Court, Glasgow.
Marine FRANK WILLIAM SMITH, R.M., was returned to Gosport at the request of a relative, and was buried on Friday 22nd of November 1940, and is
laid to rest, Plot 34 Space 72, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
Private FREDERICK STEPHEN SMITH 6213014, Private, Middlesex Regiment Age 20 Died 28.8.1940
At an Inquest held on the 3rd September 1940. The Coroner for South Hants, Major G.H. Warner, enquired into the circumstances, in which Private
FREDERICK STEPHEN SMITH, of the Middlesex Regiment, met with his death. Private Smith, was the son of James Henry and Jane Beatrice Smith of Tooting, Surrey. The Middlesex Regiment, were based at the New
Barracks (St. George’s), Gosport. He was on a course in weapon handling at the ‘Machine Gun Training Centre’ also at the barracks. He was 20 years of age, and was single. His home was
at No. 38 Rectory Lane, Tooting, London SW1. He was found on the floor of his sleeping quarters within the barracks. He was found with a gunshot wound to his head. Still alive, he was immediately taken
to Haslar Hospital, where he died of his wounds on Wednesday 28th August 1940. Colour Sergeant Major Lawrence McKie stated that ‘ a rifle was found lying across two beds in the Quarters, and that
upon inspection of the rifle’s magazine, it was noted that one round of ammunition had been discharged. Smith was examined and found to have cuts on his wrist, and a blood stained safety razor
blade was found nearby. Private Smith had been in the army, three and half months, he had been depressed and unwell of late.’ A verdict was returned that, Private Frederick Stephen Smith (6213014),
late of the Middlesex Regiment, based at the New Barracks, Gosport, - ‘Had shot himself whilst the balance of his mind was disturbed’
Private FREDERICK STEPHEN SMITH was buried on Tuesday 3rd September 1940. He is laid to rest in the War Graves Section, Row
6 Grave 2, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
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