Died 20th February 1918

Aged 20 years

Commemorated at the Jerusalem War Cemetery
Grave K.67

A Higham Ferrers Man’s Fate
Private F. C. Smith Reported Killed – A Discrepancy

We regret to learn that Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Smith, of 17 College-street, Higham Ferrers, have received official information that their eldest son, Pte. F. C. Smith, of the London Regiment, was killed in action in Egypt on February 20th. The official news, however, states that he was posted to the London Regiment from the King’s Royal Rifles, whereas his parents state that he was never attached to the latter regiment except as a member of the Church Lads’ Brigade. There is also a discrepancy in regard to the soldier’s number given on the official notification of his death is R/41233. It is hoped that these discrepancies may point to a mistake having been made, and further news is anxiously being awaited from the War Office.

Pte. Smith, who was 19 years of age, joined the Colours on February 24th 1917, and went to Egypt in November last. Prior to enlistment he was a clicker at Mr. Charles Parker’s factory, and for many years was a member of the Higham C.L.B., and attended St. Mary’s Sunday School regularly. His parents will be grateful for any further information concerning him. A letter was received from him last Friday, and was dated January 2nd 1918. He wrote as follows:-

Dear Mother and Dad.—I am writing to you once again, hoping all of you are in good health, as I am in the best of health at present. I must tell you that I have not received a letter from you yet, but I hope to very shortly. None of our draft have received any yet, so we are all the same. We had the December 26th post last Sunday. I hope you have received all my letters, especially the long one I wrote on June 18th. We are billeted in Jerusalem now, and we are having a fine time; the weather here is grand. I think we shall be here for ten days. We are still out for a rest. We are allowed out into the city in the afternoons until six at night, and then we can go to a concert after six if we like. There are two concerts each night, and they are very good too. We also have the Brigade brass band, which gives concerts on Saturdays and Sundays, so we do have a little enjoyment when we are out for a rest.

I went into the city yesterday afternoon, and it was a fine sight. There are some of the finest buildings I have ever seen. There is one church which is a very fine one. It has sacred statues inside of Mary and Martha, and many others, but the inside of the church is placed out of bounds for troops now.

I have also been in one part of the city which is called Old Jerusalem. It is surrounded by great city walls. The streets here are different from ours. They are very narrow, and the shops here are all the same. They are called shops, but there is nothing in them but oranges, figs, and nuts. I have had plenty of these since I have been out here. The Jewish people here make a lot of fuss of English soldiers because of the marvelous work they have done by capturing the city from the Turks. The people are pleased to be under the English once more. They tell us they have been waiting for the British soldiers for over two years.

I do not know if you have seen this in the papers, but when the British entered Jerusalem on December 8th it poured with rain for hours, and they were all drenched to the skin, but it was taken with a good British heart, and the people gave the soldiers oranges and other fruit. I saw in a paper that this victory was celebrated in London by ringing the bells. The bells out here were also rung, but the lads would rather hear the London bells instead, ringing for peace.

The food we get now is a lot better. We get fresh meat up nearly every day, and bread and bacon. The supplies are getting better day by day. There has been plenty of food out here for the troops, but tit was the transport; they could not get it up quick enough, because we were advancing too quickly.

Killed in Palestine—Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Smith, of 17 College-street, Higham Ferrers, have now received confirmation of the death in action in Palestine of their eldest son, Pte. F. C. Smith, London Regiment, Civil Service Rifles, letters having been received from the captain and the chaplain. Captain K. A. Wills writes: “I regret to have to inform you that your son, Pte. F. C. Smith, was killed in action on February 20th during a successful attack on the Turks. He was killed instantaneously by a bullet through the heart, and was buried by the chaplain where he fell with his comrades. Although only with us for such a short time, he endeared himself to us by his cheerfulness and sunny spirit. He fell in his first action, and died like a man. I can only offer you my sincere sympathy and that of my men in your great loss.” The Rev. C. G. Cavalier (chaplain) writes: “He was killed by machine-gun fire in the attack on the Turkish positions on February 20th. It may be some consolation to you that death was instantaneous. We buried him that evening in a small cemetery we made on the battlefield, committing him to the mercy and love of God. He died, advancing bravely against the Turkish positions; he gave his best for his country in the hour of her need. Remember he still lives, is still your son in the Paradise of God, where by His mercy you will one day meet him. May our Heavenly Father comfort and help you in your sorrow.” Pte. T. Wright, of the same regiment, writing to his parents (Mr. and Mrs. A. Wright, of 1 Queen-street, Rushden, says: “I am sorry to say Fred Smith, of Higham, has been killed in a big battle. I helped to carry his body in after the fight. He got shot through the heart.” Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Smith, 17 College-street, wish to thank the many friends for their kind expressions of sympathy in their great bereavement by the death of their son.