Rank
Pte
Service No.
724029
Unit
109th to 124th Btn
Died
6 November, 1917
Age 28
Age 28
Buried
Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium - XV D 23
Remembrance:
First World War Book of Remembrance - Page 327
Additional Info
Albert Richard Smith was born 15 December 1886 to Frederick and Jane Smith, of Ivy Cottage, Kerry Rd, Newtown, Mont., Wales. Other than his parents nothing else has been found about his family, or reasons for being in Lindsay to enlist.
On 26 February 1916, Albert enlisted with the 109th Battalion in Lindsay, and was subsequently transferred to the 124th Pioneer Battalion upon arrival in England.
During this period of the war, the 124th Canadian Pioneer Battalion was in the area of Ypres, southeast of St. Julien, trying to repair railways for supplies and under seemingly constant shelling, according to the notes in the war diary. It reads “the railway party was sent out on the morning of the 6th, in order to get some daylight work done. Since an attack was anticipated an attempt was made to have the time changed, but as all arrangements had been fixed they had to stand. The party consisted of 3 Officers 206 Other Ranks, under Captain W.G. Moffatt. When the head of the column reach location of the work it was badly shelled and many casualties occurred. 12 Other Ranks were killed, including 769288 Pte. G. (Spike) O’Sullivan, one of the Battalion’s best Football players. 25 Other Ranks were wounded. Many men had to be detailed to look after the killed and wounded, but the party completed the first task of 100 yds of grade.”
The Circumstances of Casualty form for Albert, as well as thousands of other soldiers, has been lost since the war so there are no other details about his death available.
Albert Smith is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium. He was 28 years old.
Attestation and other Documents (pdf, 32 pages - 14.6MB)
