Richard Alexander Noel Smyth, a pre-war regular officer, served as a Lieutenant with 5 Siege Battery and arrived with it in France in September 1914. Latterly promoted to Captain in the October, Richard died of wounds on 7th November 1914; the battery then being in position near Armentieres. In the act of attempting to tend to and rescue a wounded soldier he was shot by a German sniper. He lay wounded under enemy fire for some time before it was possible to evacuate him. He was eventually taken to a dressing station where he died from his wounds that night. Richard was the first officer casualty 5 Siege Battery was to suffer during the war.
For his brave and selfless act he was recommended for the Military Cross. Sadly, as posthumous MCs were not awarded at that time he was instead mentioned in dispatches (gazetted in early 1915).
Richard was born in India, and was the son of Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Augustus and Elizabeth Smyth of 6 Lansdowne, Weymouth, Dorset. He now rests in Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck.
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Richard's grave in Trois Arbres Cemetery; photo kindly provided by BWG.
Herbert Charles Smith served as Gunner 156713 in 5 Siege Battery, and was killed in action in the early hours of this day 7th November 1917. He was killed as a result of the explosion of an ammunition dump of 174th Siege Battery during counter-battery shelling. 5 Siege Battery howitzers were then located at Hindenburg Farm SSE of Pilckem.
Herbert was born in Hemmingstone, Suffolk; and lived in Somersham. Although Herbert's service records no longer survive, it would seem from the existing records of men who served in 5 Siege Battery with numbers close to his that he probably arrived in France during the third quarter of 1917 and had scarcely been with the battery for one month before he was killed. He now rests with many of his comrades who died during the period of the 3rd Ypres in Bard Cottage Cemetery.
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Herbert's grave in Bard Cottage Cemetery; photo kindly provided by Nick Haworth.
Gone but not forgotten
Kind regards
Steve