Lives of the First World War

It was not possible to trace anyone of this exact name with a Leigh connection, and it seems very probable that the Leigh memorial refers to Ernest Alfred Smith, who was born in Leigh Sinton in about 1900, the son of a general labourer, Samuel Smith, and his wife Agnes (see the 1901 census). In 1911 he was still living with his family at Leigh Sinton. His name was then given as Alfred Ernest; and he seems to have been known by this name unofficially. He was then aged 11 and still at school. If this man has been correctly identified with the name on the Leigh memorial, the records show that he joined the 10th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. When he was enlisted, his place of residence was given as Malvern. He was killed in action on 21 September 1918, when he would have been about 18 or 19 years old. He is buried at Choques Military Cemetery in the Pas de Calais. His regimental number was 26901.

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