SMITH, John Bernard

John Smith was born in Hednesford but his link with Brierley Hill is unknown. He volunteered for the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and went to the 6th Battalion in the 20th (Light) Division. They had their first front line experience in Artois at Laventie and in 1916 fought on the Somme at Guillement. In March 1917 they followed up the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. In June they were covering the enemy line, organising raids and suffering shelling. At some point John Smith was wounded and taken to a Casualty Clearing Station where he died on the 20th June. Lance Corporal John Smith is buried in Favreuil British Cemetery (I B 18) near Bapaume and commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.