SMITH, Edward Charles

Edward Smith was the only son of Edward and Alice Smith who lived at 4 Vale Street, Amblecote. He had been baptized at St. James, Wollaston, and attended Wollaston Schools. He worked as a railway clerk and enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery in December 1915 to serve in the 256th Siege Battery on the Western Front. It was formed in February 1917 and in October of that year was involved in the Third Battle of Ypres near Wieltje. On the 4th October Gunner Edward Smith was killed in action. He was 20 years of age and is buried in Buffs Road Cemetery (E 2). He is commemorated on the Amblecote and Wordsley Memorials and on his parents’ grave in Amblecote churchyard.