Hampshire letters

[mikehowe]

In the 1915 Stratford-on Avon Herald there are a number of letters from the 2nd Bn Hampshire Regt, including one from Mrs Carrington Smith whose Husband Lieutenant-Colonel Hubert Carrington-Smith was killed on the River Clyde at V Beach, 25 April 1915

[Guest Ian Bowbrick]

Mike - any chance of scanning it and posting?

Ian

[michaeldr]

Walker, in his book 'To What End Did They Die' lists this officer as

Lieutenant Colonel Herbert George Carington Smith (without a hyphen)

"Lieutenant 1885, Captain 1895. Served with the Nile Expedition 1898, (MiD twice).

Major 1900. Served in the S.A. War (Asst. to Mil. Governor at Pretoria). C/O - Roberts Horse and later served with the S.A. Light Horse. Wounded twice. MiD (twice). Served in Aden 1903. Killed on the 'River Clyde.' Killed in Action 25th April 1915. No known grave. Commemorated, Helles Memorial."

Lt-Col Carington Smith was the officer in charge of the troops on the 'River Clyde' and he watched the landing and battle from the ship's bridge. The 'River Clyde' ran a ground at 06.22 hrs and he was shot and killed on the bridge just before 15.00 hrs. His body was still lying where it fell on the bridge later that evening and seen at that time by an officer on Hunter Weston's staff.

That Carington Smith has "No known grave" says something about the utter confusion of those first few hours at Helles on 25th April 1915.

Like Ian I would be interested to see the letters Mike

Regards

Michael D.R.

[michaeldr]

Mike,

Many thanks for the e-mail and copy of newspaper cuttings

which indicate that when Col Carington Smith was killed he was exposed on the bridge of the 'River Clyde' trying to spot where a particular enemy machine-gun was firing from

Thanks again

Michael D.R.