Alexander F. Smith LZ/900
| Alexander Frederick Smith was born on 4th October 1884 at Catford Hill, Kent. He was the seventh of eleven surviving children of John Archer Smith, a timber merchant, and Emma Smith (née Jones). His siblings were Kate (c. 1872), Emma (1875), John Archer (1876), Ellen Louise (1879), Sydney Arthur (1882), Albert Ernest (1884), Edgar Henry (1886), Arthur William (1888), Helena Dorothy (1890), and Edith Beatrice (1891). After being educated at Egerton Park College, Bexhill, and then from 1895 to 1902 at St Dunstan’s, Catford, he was employed as a builder’s surveyor. | ||||||||
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Following the outbreak of war, Alexander enlisted in the London Division of the RNVR on 19th November 1914, initially entering the Public Schools Battalion. On 3rd May 1915, he was borne on the nominal roll of the Hawke Battalion and disembarked at Gallipoli with the May reinforcements. On 17th October, Alexander was admitted to hospital, and on 12th November was transferred to the Lowland Casualty Clearing Station from the 3rd Australian General Hospital, suffering from rheumatoid lumbago. On 14th November, he was sent to the Australian and New Zealand Base Depot, and on 16th December was again admitted to the Lowland Casualty Clearing Station. He rejoined his battalion on 6th January 1916. On 9th April, Alexander was transferred to the Depot Battalion at Mudros to serve with the anti-aircraft gun crews. On 29th July, he disembarked at Alexandria, and on 22nd August was attached to the 4th Reserve Battalion. On 14th October, he returned to Blandford. On 4th December, Alexander was drafted to the Hawke Battalion, rejoining it on 22nd. He was wounded during the fighting on the north bank of the Ancre on 4th February 1917, though no further details are recorded; he rejoined Hawke four days later. Alexander was killed in action on 18th February. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. |
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