SMITH, F. H [of Newark]
Sgt 45580, 17th battalion Sherwood Foresters
By Barbara White
Frank Smith was the son of George and Mary Emma Smith of Newark and husband of Eleanor Asling Smith of 57 Hatton Gardens Newark. Brother-in-Law of Edward Hosner ASLING
Before the war he was a maltster’s chemist, he joined up in 1916 and died on the Western Front on 23rd October 1917
His wife Eleanor learned of his death in a letter from a hospital sister who said that Sgt Smith who had been brought to the hospital mortally wounded had been comforted by the nurse and she had told him that she would write to his wife and send his love.
A fortnight later Eleanor received a letter from Frank himself, telling of his bravery, possibly just days before his death. He and Private Lowe (also of Newark) volunteered to take an important message 300 yards under heavy fire which entailed crawling back through the mud under ceaseless fire;
Sgt Smith was buried in the Godewaeresvelde British Cemetery in France
Sgt Frank Smith is remembered on
St Mary’s church (parishioners) war memorial
St Mary’s church, Newark town roll of Honour
Newark cemetery war memorial.
Acknowledgements
With thanks to
Trevor Frecknall, “Newark in the Great War”
www.ournottinghamshire.org a local history website for Nottinghamshire.
www.cwgc.org
Nottinghamshire roll of Honour