Born Paul Rudolph Smith in 1897 at Woodford, son of Horace (City of London Municipal Clerk) and Lydia Smith. 1901: With his family at 1 Cheyne Row, Carnarvon Road, South Woodford. 1911: With his family at Malmesbury House Malmesbury Road, South Woodford. The family home was later at “Glen Rosa” 168 Hermon Hill, South Woodford, where his medals were delivered to his father. In an article for the South Woodford Gazette in 2017, his nephew Tim Smith records the family belief that Mr & Mrs Smith were Christian Pacifists, and Lydia had German ancestry. In fact she was born the Swiss town of Boudvilliers near the border with France.
An Old Bancroftian, Paul joined the Army during November 1914 at age 17 while claiming to be a 19 year old Engineer. Indeed he was so employed at Walthamstow by the bus manufacturer Associated Equipment Company. He was training at Winchester as a Rifleman in 13 Rifle Brigade during February 1915 when it appears his true age may have been uncovered. He was discharged, officially for failing to attend a parade. The discharge was ineffective, because later in the month he appears to have enlisted as Percy Randolph Smith in 5 London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade). He arrived in France on 15th October 1915 as a replacement for casualties which the Battalion had incurred.
On 23rd May 1916 The London Rifle Brigade were in the Hebuterne Sector near Gommecourt on the Somme, where preparations were underway for the “Big Push” on 1st July 1916. Although there were no major engagements that day, Percy Smith is recorded as being Killed in Action, the victim of an enemy shell.
He is also remembered on the Wanstead War Memorial.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Woodford Times
The Bancroftian
Service Record
Biography by nephew Tim Smith, South Woodford Gazette January 2017
For more information on this individual please see The Old Bancroftian website.