Horace William Smith
Private 5329614
1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment
Division 63
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Horace William Smith, was the son of Mr and Mrs W. Smith, of 61 Cardigan Road, Reading. His wife was Dorothy Smith, of 6, Providence Place, Reading. He died on 23rd July 1921, aged 23. He is buried in the Bagdad (north Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq. Location III. A. 7.
No other information is available due to the large numbers of men with similar names.
Albert W. Smith
Sergeant 9th Siege Battalion
Royal Garrison Artillery.
Division 34
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Both Albert and Edwin are commemorated in the Reading Cemetery on the grave of their parents George and Matilda Smith. The grave is marked by a small opened book. The 1901 census records indicate the names of the brothers as Edwin, Albert, Sidney and Charles. There are two younger brothers also named Ernest and Reginald. George Smith and Edwin were listed as farm labourers. It has not been possible to find information after 1901.
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Albert W. Smith, known as Bert and “Fatty” died of wounds on 17th July 1917, after nine years of service, aged 27. He was the second son of George and Matilda Smith.
Bert died ten days after his return to France from leave. (It was actually Belgium and he received wounds during a time which the British carried out some successful raids in the Ypres sector, two weeks prior to the Third Battle of Ypres)
He is buried at La Clytte Military Cemetery, Belgium. Location II. F. 18.
The family remembered the anniversary of his death –
In memoriam Std. July 19th 1919- Smith – “In loving memory of my dear brother….
In a soldier’s grave in a foreign land
Lies a brother true and kind,
We little thought when we said goodbye
‘Twas our last parting-you were to die.
Though the blow was cruel, we miss you still,
In grief we must bend to God’s will.
His loving sister, Nancy, 4. Laurel Cottage, Basingstoke Rd. Whitley, Berks.
Edwin George Smith
Private 15512
8th Battalion. Royal Berkshire Regiment
Edwin George Smith, is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the Missing Panels 93 -95. He died on the 25th September 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos. He was the eldest of the four Smith brothers.
Standard January 10th 1920
In proud memory ….
Till the morning breaks and the shadows flee away. RIP
From their ever loving Mother and sisters and brothers.
also from sister Nancy – Edwin George Smith and Albert William Smith
They too loved life, but loving, dared not stay,
Lest those they loved should pay the price,
Sunshine and youth and laughter, all they gave in sacrifice.
Division 56
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In 1911 Sarah Searing was living at 101 Watlington Street, Reading. She lived with her daughter, also called Sarah(31) and her three sons Albert (27), Amos(30) and Samuel(26).
All three were labourers, Albert worked as a bricklayer’s labourer, Amos worked at the tin factory and Samuel at the biscuit factory. In 1901 the family lived at 88 Watlington Street,The County Tap, and Sarah the mother is described as the innkeeper and her daughter as barmaid.
All three men are commemorated on their mothers grave but only their initials are given. It has taken some energy to establish thier identities. Sister Sarah’s details are only given on the CWGC register for Albert and then no first name is supplied: Miss S. E. Searing, of 31, Cortis Avenue, Broadwater, Worthing. Tragically all three brother have no known graves and there commemoration in the cemetery rendered them almost invisible.
Albert Edward Searing
Private 201975
1st/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment
Albert Searing He died on 13th August 1917. The CWGC register states his age as 33. but it is believed, using census information, that he was 35. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Panel 45. Strangely the war diary for the 1st/4th indicates that they were at Dambre camp and the battalion spent the day practicing for the forth coming attack which was due to begin on the 15 August. The record for the
13 August states two killed and seven wounded. There are no other details but the circumstances seem strange.
Amos Thomas Searing
Private 33662
2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment
Amos Searing died on 2nd April 1918. Born about 1881 he was thought to be about 37 on his death. He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the Missing, Panel 56 & 57.
Samuel Searing
Private202225
2nd/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment
Samuel Searing He died on 22nd August 1917 it is thought that he was about 32. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Panel 105, 106 and 162.