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Edward Robson Smith

Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

Edward Robson Smith
Sapper 63487 96th Field Company
Royal Engineers

 Division 26

 CIMG2183

Edward Robson Smith, was the eldest son of Ralph and Mary E. Smith, of 44, Mortimer Road, South Shields.   The 1911 census indicates that his occupation was that of a apprentice joiner. His father was a joiner for the Education Authority. He had four brother although only three were at home on census night.

No service record is available and the cause of death is unknown, he died on 21st March 1915, aged 21. 

His is a registered war grave with a CWGC war pattern headstone, number 6157.

Samuel Robert Collier

Abbey Baptist Church, Army, Commemorated name/s, Marlborough House School, Reading University College, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Somme

Samuel Robert Collier (Bob)
Second Lieutenant
6th Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Division 14

 Collier SR photo  CIMG2160 CIMG2161

Samuel Robert Collier known as Bob and commemorated as such on his parents headstone was 23 years old when he was first reported in the Chronicle of 4 August 1916, missing believed killed.  He was the only son of Mr and Mrs S. George Collier, of 198, Tilehurst Road, Reading. 

He was educated at Marlborough House, Reading, and Bath College.  On leaving college he entered Messrs. S. and E. Collier’s Brick and Pottery Works, of which his father was a director.  While at Bath college he was in the Cadet Corps for three years and on leaving became Scout Master of the King’s Road Boy Scouts for four years. 

At the outbreak of war he entered the Berkshire Yeomanry, but later received a commission in the 9th Berkshire Regiment, quartered at Wool.  For four months he acted as transport officer for the regiment, and gave it up to take his examinations at Salisbury Plain, and on June 16 1916 he left for France to join a service battalion of the Berkshires, acting as transport officer till July 15, when he took the post of platoon commander, when the usual transport officer returned from hospital.  He  went into action on July 17 in Delville Wood on the Somme and  was not seen after that date.

 His Captain N. B. Hudson wrote to his parents. “At about 3.30pm I saw your boy lead off his platoon against the enemy in the wood, some of his platoon came back, but I can get no information from them, save that one man told me ( I am afraid this all seems very cruel; but I think you would like me to say all I can) that he had seen an officer’s body lying in the wood, wearing riding breeches and stocking putties, and these I know were the clothes your boy was wearing.  There is only one piece of hope that I think it is right to offer you, and that is no one saw him killed, but in a wood one sees very little.  We have come back 30 miles from the scene of the action now.  From dawn on the 17 until 3.30 p.m. your boy was with me, and showed great coolness under very trying conditions.  At 3.30 p.m. he led his platoon through the wood on the right of the company, while I took the left.  I did not see him anymore.  All I can hope is that you have heard something I have not.  This I can say, that although your boy had only been in my company for two days, I saw in him during the action a fearless and courageous man, whom I felt I could trust.”

 Delville Wood was referred to by the troops as Devils Wood.  Bob Collier’s body was never found and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing Pier and Face 11D

Ernest Herbert Relf

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave, St. Laurence's Church

Ernest Herbert Relf
Gunner 125760
337th Siege Battery
Royal Garrison Artillery

 Division 33

CIMG2195 alternative mem 2

Ernest Herbert Relf  was the son of John and Ellen Sophie Relf. The 1911 census indicates that his parents and sister Rose ran an Athletics Outfitters. His occupation is given as Professional Cricketer.

Research revealed that Ernest was one of three Relf brothers who played for Sussex prior to the war. His brother  Albert played over 500 times for Sussex and 13 tests for England, he was acknowledged as an accomplished all rounder. Brother Robert plyed for the county and scored three double centuries. The Sussex Cricket Club is erecting a plaque to the fallen of the Great War. (The Argus November 2013)

Ernest was the husband of May Relf, of 3, King’s Road, Reading. He died of illness contracted whilst on active service on 27th July 1918, aged 29.  He was at  5 Northern General Hospital, Leicestershire at the time of his death. He left his wife, May Clarence Relf £148 4s 9d in his will. Ernest Herbert Relf is buried in a registered war grave number 5752 and this is marked with a private headstone.

Ernest Relf shares his grave with his mother and brother.  The commemoration inscription is very close to the ground and difficult to see under normal circumstances.  Ernest Relf’s name also appears on a special memorial in the War Plot.