Remembered Today 5.9.1917 - Pte Jimmy Smith KLR, executed at dawn

[davidbohl]

Just one of the 306 souls who went this way

https://www.liverpoolpals.com/soldier/?i=2340/52929-pte-james-smith

[sueburden]

A heartbreaking story.  

Rest in peace Jimmy.

Sue

[MrEd]

On 05/09/2022 at 09:07, davidbohl said:

Just one of the 306 souls who went this way

https://www.liverpoolpals.com/soldier/?i=2340/52929-pte-james-smith

Very moving thanks for sharing

[davidbohl]

Yes, a very difficult read from the start where he is born out of wedlock, to the final curtain involving Pte Blundell.

 

I've moved on to his family life and confused by the index of the pension ledgers:-

Soldiers Effects has no legatee, first Pension to mother Eliza Ann Culshaw, second Pension to Aunt Eliza Ann Culshaw and father James William Smith.

James Smith
Eliza Ann Culshaw	Aunt
James Wm Smith	Father

 

Name	Relation to Soldier
James. Smith.
Eliza. Ann.Culshaw.	Mother

 

Can anybody tell me the timescale between the pension records please, or do they look the same person ?

I've found him on the 1901 census living with his father James William Smith, and widow Elizabeth Threlfall who is Eliza Ann Culshaw's mother.

from Anc.

 

thanks

Dave

[WhiteStarLine]

10 hours ago, sueburden said:

A heartbreaking story.  

Agree.  I was a bit concerned I would be reading an emotive lookback at Great War military discipline through a contemporary lens but I found a comprehensive and very well-researched article.  The speech from the modern British MP was excellent and the obvious respect for the man from his own comrades-in-arms was touching.

A sad story about a man who may well have been able to resume his place in the line after rest.  Well work a read and thanks for posting.

[charlie962]

"pour encourager les autres". 

It is difficult to believe that his treatment had other than a negative effect on his battalion, let alone the damage done to his immediate comrades, even in those infernal times.

Clearly a long overdue rehabilitation. 

ps. Text has a misprint of year of trf to L'pool Pals. Sb 1916 not 1917?

[davidbohl]

16 minutes ago, charlie962 said:

Text has a misprint of year of trf to L'pool Pals. Sb 1916 not 1917?

Well spotted Charlie, I'll get that changed when we sort out his family life(if that is going to be possible).

I'm not happy with the cwgc statement "Son of James William and Elizabeth Smith, of 52 Noble St., Bolton" as the 1921 census says his wife was Margaret Ellen.

Also the MP said "Jimmy to his friends, who was born in 1891 at 77 Noble Street, today in my Constituency, and whose mother Elizabeth died just after he was born",  anecdotally "Charles Sandbach had discovered prior to the ceremony that the ‘Aunt’ who brought up Jimmy was in fact his mother".

see how go, as per usual

[seaJane]

I hate to add to your load but "Field Marshall Hague" needs a couple of firm corrections too... 

An excellent piece of research!

[Wayne Finch]

What a terrible and tragic tale!  God Rest His Soul in Peace and Tranquility