Lance/Corporal Smith Myers
17550 2nd Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Killed in Action 24th March 1917
Lived at 126 Briercliffe Road
Buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, France - V.H.7.
Burnley Express 21st April 1917

Brother of Private Edgar Myers Killed in Action 21st July 1916

Tragic Double Bereavement
(Burnley Express and Advertiser 21st April 1917)

One of the saddest cases we have had t6o record during this terrible war is that of Mrs Smith Myers of 126 Briercliffe-road, Burnley. Last week she received official news that her husband, Lce.-Corpl. Smith Myers of the Scottish Rifles had been killed on March 24th; yesterday noon she was the recipient of a telegram informing her that one of her brothers, Sec.-Lieut. F. Radcliffe, M.G.C., was killed in action on April 10th; and her father only died in March 1st last, exactly three years after her mother; whilst her only other brother, Sec.-Lieut. H. Radcliffe is now in France. Both brothers have been promoted from the ranks, and they were over on leave together last Christmas.
Lce.-Corpl. Myers, 17550, Scottish Rifles, is one of seven brothers, whose parents reside at Bolton, who are all serving-or, rather two of them have now paid the supreme sacrifice , the other being Edgar, who was killed last June, as announced in the “Express” at the time. Smith Myers, who married Miss Radcliffe five weeks or so after enlisting, joined the Colours at the New Year of 1915, and went out the following July. He went through the Battle of Loos and other engagements and had been twice wounded. He was home on furlough last year on the anniversary of his wedding day. Previously he was a weaver at Coronation Mill, and was actively associated with St. Cuthbert’s Church, where a memorial service will be held tomorrow. As stated, there were seven Myers brothers. Edgar and Smith have been killed, Stephen is in a Liverpool hospital suffering from dysentery; Fred, who went through the Battles of Mons, is now in Salonika. Harold has lost the use of his right arm through injuries; John has just gone out to France; and George is in France. Word has also been received that a brother-in-law, Tom Saul has been wounded- a fine and sad family record.
As if the loss of her husband and father in a month were not enough, Mrs. Myers was further saddened yesterday by the receipt of the following telegram from the War Office:- “Deeply regret to inform you that Second Lieutenant F Radcliffe was killed in action on April 10. The Army Council express their sympathy. “ The deceased young officer who would have been 24 years of age on April 12th, was exceedingly well-known in Burnley. He was an old scholar of Fulledge school, and prominently connected with St.Catherines Church and School, and a good footballer and cricketer. He was in the Worsthorne Estate Office, Todmorden-road but about five years ago improved his position and went on the estate of Lord and Lady Rendlesham at Wickham, Suffolk. When war broke out he joined Kitchener’s Army with one of the Suffolk battalions and went out as a corporal. Whilst at the front he was recommended for a commission and came back to England.
For some time he was at Bedford as instructor and lecturer, and went out to France about last July with the Machine Gun Corps. He has one brother, Sec.-Lieut. Hebor Radcliffe, formerly a tram driver, who joined the army as a private and was recommended for a commission, which was taken up with the Lancashire Fusiliers. He is now in France