HERBERT SUDBURY SMITH 1897–1993

Herbert Sudbury Smith

Photograph from family collection courtesy of Pauline Woodhouse

Born 21st January 1897 in Heanor, Derbys

Married 5 February 1919 to Rosa Stafford at St Mary’s Church, Radcliffe on Trent, two daughters, Margaret (Peggy) born 1919 and Pamela born 1928.

Died 20th May 1993 in Radcliffe, age 96

Known as Sudbury.

1901 Census
Age 4 living on Woodland Grove, Colwick, Notts. with father Herbert, mother Elizabeth and brothers Irving 12, Horace 11 (killed at Passchendaele Oct 12th 1917) and Joseph 7.

1911 Census

Age 14 a solicitor’s clerk living at 6 Chaworth Road, Colwick, with father Herbert Sudbury Smith, insurance agent, mother Elizabeth, brothers Irving 22 a cabinet maker, Horace 21 a french polisher, and Joseph 17 a boiler maker.

Military Service

Rank: Gunner

Service Number: 69496

Military Unit: Tank Corps

Theatre of War: He served in the U.K. and did not enter a theatre of war

From Herbert Sudbury Smith’s own correspondence and records:

1 Nov 1916: Passed a civilian test to drive a 2-ton motor vehicle

Attested: 9 Nov 16

Illness

11.2.17: Admitted to Wool (Bovington Camp) Hospital, Dorset with measles. Hospital was at Bovington Camp Army Base.

03.3.17: Discharged

21.3.17: Re-admitted to Wool (Bovington Camp) Hospital with debility after measles.

17.4.17: Discharged

07.5.17: Transferred to A.P.C (Army Pay Corps) on 2 months’ probation

29.6.17: Admitted to Brook War Hospital, near Woolwich, with anaemia and disordered action of the heart (DAH)

23.7.17: Returned to Tank Corps by APC orders

27.7.17: Admitted to Worgret Camp Hospital, near Wareham, with DAH.

19.9.17: Discharged

21.9.17: Re-admitted to hospital

1.10.17: Discharged from hospital and proceeded to Winchester for Invaliding Board

23.10.17: Discharged from Army due to disordered action of the heart following an attack of measles.

Pension Awarded 1917-18: 50%  1918-19: 40%, 11 shillings per week  1919-20 30%, 12 shillings per week

Medals Awarded: Ineligible for campaign medals as he did not serve overseas

Silver War Badge: 251380

Letters

Click here to read letters from Sudbury Smith to his parents describing an Air Raid on 7th July 1917 over Brook War Hospital where he was a patient.

Click here to read letters to Sudbury Smith from his brother Joe and from W Sansom, a friend

Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Register

Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent

1921 Census

Address: Sydney Grove, Radcliffe on Trent

Employment: clerk in drawing office Cammell Laird and Co., railway carriage and wagon builder.

Household: living with wife Rosa, daughter Margaret Elizabeth (Peggy), Rosa’s father John Thomas Fryer, baker, her brother Jack, joiner’s apprentice at A Pyatt London Road, Nottingham, and Rosa’s grandmother Harriett Gray.

1922 Electoral Register

Address: Sydney Grove, Radcliffe on Trent

Household: living with father in law John Thomas Fryer Stafford

1939 Register

Address: Sydney Grove

Occupation: Manager, manufacturers’ wireless department, sales and services. Auxiliary fire service

Household: living with wife Rosa and daughter Margaret (Peggy), a clerical assistant in the civil service

Reason for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour

Lived and died in Radcliffe on Trent.