Rifleman Alexander Charles Smith

Born in Kennington in 1895, the first record we have for Alexander is the 1911 Census. Alexander lived with his father Ernest, a Restaurant Chef, and his mother Florence in a five roomed house at 70 Denison Road, Colliers Wood. At fifteen years of age, he was the eldest of three brothers - his siblings were Leopold aged thirteen, and Ernest Frederick aged five. The household also included his father’s maiden aunts, Mary Anne Bredin, a retired School Governess, and Emily Richards, a Tailoress.

At some point in the Great War, Alexander joined the 16th Battalion, Rifle Brigade as a Rifleman. This was a service battalion, formed in St. Pancras in 1915. In March 1916, the battalion mobilised for war and landed in Le Havre. They were engaged in various actions on the Western Front including the Battle of Pilkem Ridge, and the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge in 1917. On 16 May 1918, the battalion was reduced to a cadre battalion. Cadre is what was left of a battalion after it had suffered very heavy loses and had to be rebuilt with new men and officers to get it up to strength . It is taken out of service in the field until the manpower has been restored.

By August, the battalion transferred to the 66th Division, and military records show that in September 1918, the battalion was defending the Lines of Communication as part of the 197th Brigade at Haudricourt Malarial Reception Camp, South West of Aumale.

Sadly Alexander died on the 27 October 1918 aged 23, just two weeks before the end of the War. He is buried at the Terlincthun British Cemetery, in France. His grave is marked with a cross, and the inscription reads “Those who loved him will not forget”. The inscription was requested by a Miss M.V Hall, who was recorded as next of kin. It is also recorded that his parents were still living in Colliers Wood, at Holmside, Finborough Road.