SMITH, Benjamin

Benjamin Smith lived at Rufford Street, Lye, and attended St. John's school in Stourbridge. He was an iron-plate worker for Messrs Holt and Willetts of The Hayes. He enlisted in the Worcesters in 1916 and was sent to the 2/8th Territorial Battalion in May 1917. Soon they were engaged in the gruelling experience of the Third Battle of Ypres. After further action in the second stage of the battle of Cambrai the Worcesters moved in February 1918 to Cepy Farm near St. Quentin amid rumours of a major German assault. They were in the front line, remarkably close to the formidable Hindenburg Line and to the outskirts of St. Quentin itself. During the first German Spring offensive they were forced to retreat and moved to the Lys only to experience the second German offensive which opened on the 9th April. After the battles at Hazebrouck and Béthune the Worcesters held out but were much depleted by casualties. Private Benjamin Smith was seriously wounded on the 15th April and taken to a military hospital at St. Omer. He died of wounds on the 14th May and is buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery (V B 6) and commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.