Life story: Richard Lawton Smethurst | Lives of the First World War

Timeline

1895

birth Salford United Kingdom Source:8490302 Source:8488274 12th March 1895

1898

sibling Albert Smethurst Source:8488267 1898

1900

sibling Agnes Smethurst Source:8488267 1900

1901

location Church Street, Salford United Kingdom parents address Source:8488267 1901

1905

sibling Bertha Smethurst Source:7960732 1905

1907

sibling Sydney Smethurst Source:7960732 1907

1910

sibling Herbert Smethurst Source:7960732 1910

1911

employment Warehouse Assistant United Kingdom Source:7960732 1911

1911

location 26 Cleminson Street, Salford, Lancashire United Kingdom Source:7960732 1911

1914

enlistment Manchester United Kingdom Source:8487417 2nd September 1914

1914

employment Warehouseman United Kingdom Source:8487417 1914

1915

theatres France & Belgium: 1a Source:4082396 26th January 1915

service British Army Private Z 2257 Rifle Brigade Source:4082396

service British Army Private Z 2257 Rifle Brigade 2nd Battalion Source:6168655

service British Army Private Z 2257 Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) 1st Battalion Source:6168659

1915

death France Source:6997316 18th June 1915

burial Aubers Ridge British Cemetery CWGC Cemetery/Memorial Aubers Winchester Post Military Cemetery, Rue-de-Bacquerot, about 1 1/2 miles South of Laventie, and 7 miles west. South, west of Armentieres. France VIII. A. 4 Source:8487454 Source:8488309

Details

Names

Type	Name
First Names	Richard Lawton
Initials	RL
Last Name	Smethurst
Source	4082396
First Names	Richard Lawton
Initials	RL
Last Name	Smethurst
Source	4082396

Gender

Gender	Source
Male

Locations

Address	Country	Type	Date	Source
26 Cleminson Street, Salford, Lancashire	United Kingdom		known 1911
Church Street, Salford	United Kingdom	parents address	known 1901

Contribution

Military Service

Service	Number	Unit	Section	Rank
British Army	Z 2257	Rifle Brigade		Private
British Army	Z 2257	Rifle Brigade	2nd Battalion	Private
British Army	Z 2257	Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)	1st Battalion	Private

Awards

Award	Type	Source
1914/15 Star	First World War Campaign/Service Medal
1914/15 Star	First World War Campaign/Service Medal
British War Medal	First World War Campaign/Service Medal
British War Medal	First World War Campaign/Service Medal
Victory Medal	First World War Campaign/Service Medal
Victory Medal	First World War Campaign/Service Medal

Family

Parents

Name	Relationship	Dates	Source
Edith Smethurst	mother
Richard Smethurst	father

Siblings

Name	Relationship	Dates
Albert Smethurst	brother	1898
Bertha Smethurst	sister	1905
Sydney Smethurst	brother	1907
Herbert Smethurst	brother	1910
Agnes Smethurst	sister	1900

Physical

Complexion	Eyes	Hair	Source

Date	Height	Source
1914-09-02	5'4"

Media

Photograph of Cleminson Street

Photograph of Cleminson Street where Richard Smethurst lived

Contributed by:
Alison35787
Richard Lawton Smethurst

Richard in uniform

Contributed by:
Charlotte33
Photograph of Richard's grave

Richard Lawton Smethurst's grave, Aubers Ridge British Cemetery, France. Photograph taken by Charlotte Czyzyk in October 2012.

Contributed by:
Charlotte33
R.F.A. postcard sent by Richard

Donated to IWM by his family

Contributed by:
Martin968
Rifle Brigade Postcard sent by Richard

Donated to IWM by his family

Contributed by:
Martin968
Notice of burial

Donated to IWM by family

Contributed by:
Martin968
Brown Leather Wallet belonging to Richard

Donated to IWM by his family

Contributed by:
Martin968
Medals awarded to Richard, and given to his family

The Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1914-15 Star awarded to Richard. These were sent to his family in 1920 and 1921

Contributed by:
Martin968
Next of Kin Memorial Plaque

Sent to Richard's family after he was killed in action on 18 June 1915. The plaque has the name 'Richard Lawton Smethurst' inscribed upon it.

Contributed by:
Martin968
Scan of Richards's letter home

The transcript of this letter can be found under the 'Stories' tab

Contributed by:
Charlotte33
service scripture

donated with his things

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Envelope

Correspondence envelope addressed to Mrs. Smethurst at Smethurst's home address. Contained a portrait photograph.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Photograph

Photo of Smethurst (right)

Contributed by:
Alison154121
1914-15 Star decoration letter

From the record's office, letter accompanying Smethurst's 1914-15 Star.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Victory medal letter

From the record's office accompanying Smethurst's Victory medal.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
British War Medal letter

From the record's office accompanying Smethurst's British War Medal.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Imperial War Graves Commission notice

Confirmation of Smethurst's headstone erected at Aubers Ridge British Cemetery.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Commemorative scroll

Decorative scroll dedicated to Smethurst for his sacrifice.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Figure target

Instructional target from musketry course.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Back of target

Letter on the back of Smethurst's target.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Notification of burial

From the Director-General of Graves Registration and Enquiries, notifying of Smethurst's burial at Rue de Bacquerot, Winchester Post.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Photograph of Smethurst's Winchester Post grave

Photograph sent within notification of burial.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Note

Not accompanying Smethurst's grave photograph. "Cemetery Rue Du Bacquerot, Winchester Post. Deep in our hearts his memory clings."

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Reply from the war office regarding his grave

Addressed to a Mrs. C. J. Smethurst regarding her inquiry of Smethurst's grave. It says, "a photograph of the grave will be taken as soon as possible, and a copy will be sent to you" which was also donated with his things and a scan of the image has been uploaded here.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Letter from the Winchester station

Notification of Smethurst's death.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Postal Tube

Addressed to R. L. Smethurst at 26 Cleminson in Salford.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
medal box (fragments)

Donated with his things.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Smethurst bible

Bible belonging to Smethurst.

Contributed by:
Alison154121
Inside cover of bible

Inscription of Smethurst's name, unit and address.

Contributed by:
Alison154121

Communities

IWM North Handling Collection

IWM North Handling Collection

More about IWM North Handling Collection
Smethurst family

Smethurst family

More about Smethurst family

Evidence

IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Official Records

Title	Connected by	More information
Medal Index Card
1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription	Imperial1
British Army Service Records 1914-1920 Transcription	Charlotte33
1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription	Martin968
England & Wales births 1837-2006 Transcription	Martin968
England & Wales marriages 1837-2005 Transcription	Alison154121

External Evidence

Reference	Connected by	More information
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Record	Charlotte33
Items in IWM North handling collection	Charlotte33
Manchester, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915	Martin968
In Memorium, from family, Manchester Evening News, 19 June 1915	Martin968
In Memorium from Richard's friend, Manchester Evening News, 19 June 1915	Martin968
Tribute published in Manchester Evening News, 2 July 1915	Charlotte33

Multimedia

Title	Connected by	More information
Photograph of Cleminson Street	Alison35787
Richard Lawton Smethurst	Charlotte33
Photograph of Richard's grave	Charlotte33
R.F.A. postcard sent by Richard	Martin968
Rifle Brigade Postcard sent by Richard	Martin968
Notice of burial	Martin968
Brown Leather Wallet belonging to Richard	Martin968
Medals awarded to Richard, and given to his family	Martin968
Next of Kin Memorial Plaque	Martin968
Scan of Richards's letter home	Charlotte33
service scripture	Alison154121
Envelope	Alison154121
Photograph	Alison154121
1914-15 Star decoration letter	Alison154121
Victory medal letter	Alison154121
British War Medal letter	Alison154121
Imperial War Graves Commission notice	Alison154121
Commemorative scroll	Alison154121
Figure target	Alison154121
Back of target	Alison154121
Notification of burial	Alison154121
Photograph of Smethurst's Winchester Post grave	Alison154121
Note	Alison154121
Reply from the war office regarding his grave	Alison154121
Letter from the Winchester station	Alison154121
Postal Tube	Alison154121
medal box (fragments)	Alison154121
Smethurst bible	Alison154121
Inside cover of bible	Alison154121

Stories

No related stories were found.

{{story._source.summary_title}}

{{story._source.description[0].value | trim:50}}

{{story._source.date.from.iso | displayDate}} - {{story._source.date.to.iso | displayDate}}

{{story._source.date.from.iso | displayDate}}

{{story._source.date.iso | displayDate}}

{{story._source.certainty.date.from.iso | displayDate}} - {{story._source.certainty.date.to.iso | displayDate}}

{{story._source.certainty.date.from.iso | displayDate}}

{{story._source.certainty.date.iso | displayDate}}

More about {{story._source.summary_title}}

We remember Richard Lawton Smethurst

Also remembered by 12 people

Event Type	Event Icon
appointments
awards
birth
burial
children
commission
dates
death
discharge
education
employment
enlistment
events
hospitalisation
internment
location
marriage
missing
service
sibling
theatres

We remember Richard Lawton Smethurst

We remember Richard Lawton Smethurst

Also remembered by 12 people

Timeline

Timeline

1895

1898

1900

1901

1905

1907

1910

1911

1911

1914

1914

1915

1915

Details

Details

Parents

Siblings

Media

Media

Communities

Communities

IWM North Handling Collection

Smethurst family

Evidence

Evidence

Official Records

External Evidence

Multimedia

Stories

Stories

{{story._source.summary_title}}

We remember Richard Lawton Smethurst