Corporal Samuel Smith
F/262 17th Middlesex Regiment (1st Football Bttn.)
Missing in Action 17th September 1916
Lived at 17 Holmsley Street
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France
Burnley Express 21st October 1916 - 6th October 1917

Samuel Smith was born in Burnley the son of William Smith. He was married with 3 children and lived at 17 Holmesley Street, Fulledge. He enlisted about Christmas 1914 at Kingsway, Middlesex as Private F/262 in the 17th Battalion (Footballers’ Battalion) Middlesex Regiment and became a corporal. He was killed in action on Sunday, 17th September 1916 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France Pier and Face 12D and 13B.

The Burnley Express of Oct 21 1916 reported that:-
“Burnley Corporal’s Patriotism. Missing And Believed Killed.
Mrs Smith of 17 Holmesley Street, Fulledge, has this week received the sad official intimation that her husband, Corpl. Samuel Smith, of the Middlesex Footballers’ Battalion, is “missing believed killed” as from the 17th September last. Corpl. Smith who has a wife and 3 children, was working as a weaver at the new shed in Worsthorne when war broke out.. He was well known and well respected at St Peter’s School where he played with the school football team. He at once determined “to do his bit” and presented himself for enlistment. He was however rejected owing to a slight rupture. Not to be deterred in his patriotic resolve, he voluntarily went into hospital to undergo an operation so that he could join the forces. Afterwards he was accepted in the Footballers’ Battalion last Christmas. He went out as a storekeeper, but exchanged places with a comrade in the trenches who had developed rheumatism. He was afterwards made a bomber and was in the recent hard fighting. He had been at the front about twelve months.
Mrs Smith has received the following letter from Mr Murray, chaplain, dated October 8th:- “Dear Mrs Smith, - no doubt you have heard by this date that your husband, Corpl. S. Smith is reported missing during a trench mortar attack on the 17th September. I must express my sympathy with you in your trouble. I am afraid that there is very little chance that he is still alive. There is the slight possibility that he may have been taken prisoner, but this is not at all likely. As far as we know no Germans came over into our trenches. It is sad for those left behind but we must remember that there is a world to come.- your truly, Donald W Murray, Chaplain.”
Mrs Smith’s brother, Pte H. Astin, has been awarded the D.C.M and the Military Medal. Her brother Albert , who has travelled all over the world, and enlisted in the New Zealand contingent is now in a London Hospital having been wounded.”

The Burnley News reported:-
“Corporal Smith was well known and highly respected in the Fulledge district.he enlisted about Christmas 1914 , prior to which he had been employed for a few months at the new shed at Worsthorne. He formerly worked at Messrs. Haythornthwaite’s, Burnley. His name appears on the roll of honour of St. Peter’s Parish Church. He was keenly interested in sport and several years ago appeared in Burnley Sunday School football with a St Peter’s team. Corporal Smith went to the front about twelve moths ago and had seen much severe fighting. He was slightily wounded and treated in the field a few weeks ago. Mrs Smith for whom sincere sympathy is felt, is left with three children, the eldest of whom is eleven and the youngest sixteen months old.”

The Burnley Express of September 22nd 1917 confirmed Sam Smith’s death.

Notes.
Samuel Smith was admitted to St Peter’s Junior School on 3/5/1881 from Bolton Street School. His father was William Smith who lived at 24 Peter Street.