Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Timothy Smith, a hosiery framework knitter, born in the October quarter of 1857 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 24th November 1857 in Thurmaston (son of William Smith, 1821-1891 and Ann Coltman, 1822) and his wife Ellen Smith (nee Agar, married in the January quarter of 1881 in Leicester), born on the 22nd March 1856 in Birstall, Leicestershire and baptised on the 1st June 1856 in the Church of St. James the Great, Birstall (daughter of James Agar, 1831 and Ann Green, 1837). Albert, a schoolboy, was born in the April quarter of 1881 in Thurmaston, his siblings were Timothy, a schoolboy, born on the 19th December 1882 in Thurmaston and baptised on the 23rd February 1883 in the Church of St. Michael & All Angels, Thurmaston, Frank, a schoolboy, born on the 25th November 1884 in Matlock, Derbyshire, James, born in the January quarter of 1887, Ben, born in the April quarter of 1888 and Ann, born on the 5th February 1890, the latter three siblings were all born in Darley, Derbyshire, in April 1891 the family home was at Twiggs Row, 4, Hackney Lane, Darley, Bakewell, Derbyshire.
In March 1901 Albert was employed as a brick maker and was residing in the family home at Main Street, North Thurmaston, Leicestershire, together with his father, a hosiery trade glove maker, his mother and siblings, Timothy, a brick maker, Frank, a brick maker, James, a basket maker, Ben, Ann, Fred, born in the October quarter of 1891 in Darley, Derbyshire, Charlie, born in the January quarter of 1894, Ernest, born in the October quarter of 1895 and Nellie, born on the 9th November 1898, the latter three siblings were all born in Thurmaston.
In April 1911 Albert was employed as a railway labourer and was residing in the family home at Main Street, Thurmaston, together with his father, a glove trade worker, his mother and siblings, Ben, a railway labourer, Ann a hosiery trade cotton winder, Fred, a railway engine cleaner, Charlie a shoe trade artist, Ernest, an iron foundry core maker and Nellie.
Albert’s younger brother Charlie, fell in action on the 9th April 1917.
Albert army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At Le4icester. Date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 3285.
Transferred. To 19th (Service) Bn. Manchester Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 41014.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Killed in action. In the Field. 29/7/17.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Albert nominated his brothers, Ernest, Timothy, Frank, James and Benjamin and his sisters Annie Partridge and Nellie as his legatees.
The War Diary records: 28 July-17 – CORNWALL CAMP. The Battalion moved to CHATEAU SEGARD as per movement order No.33 (attached). Details moved to Brigade Transport Lines near DICKEBUSCHE.
The War Diary records: 29 July-17 – CHATEAU SEGARD. The Battalion moved to MAPLE COPSE at 9.39pm.
The War Diary records: 30 July-17 – CHATEAU SEGARD. “A” and “B” Companies moved to CRAB CRAWL tunnel, “C” and “B” Companies remaining in MAPLE COPSE previous to the attack on the German Line East of YPRES.
The War Diary records: 31 July-17 – CHATEAU SEGARD. The Battalion attacked the German Line East of YPRES. Detailed account will be published in War Diary for August 1917. Weather very wet.
[recognitum XXIX-III-MMXXIV]