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Sgt. Joseph Smith MM.
British Army 8th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
(d.12th Apr 1917)
Joseph Smith was born and enlisted in Jarrow. He first disembarked in France with the BEF on 14th August 1914. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial and is commemorated on the Palmer Cenotaph Jarrow and on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow.
Additional Information:
He went to the front since 13th August 1914, serving with the 8th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. Joseph was promoted to Corporal on 26th January 1915 and to Serjeant a short time later. He was then appointed to acting CSM and CCM on 4th July 1916 but reverted at his own request to Serjeant on 23rd March 1917
He received a gunshot wound to his upper left arm on 4th June 1915 at Versailes and was hospitalised before being sent home to convalesce on 9th June 1915.
Company Sergeant Major Joseph Smith, of the Lincolnshire Regiment, an old boy of St. Bede's school, Jarrow, whose parents lived at 37 Queens Road, Jarrow was awarded the Military Medal. In a letter to his parents his Commanding Officer says:- "On July 1st 1916, seeing the enemy advancing at Fricourt, up Lonely Trench, CSM Smith proceeded on his own initiative to drive the enemy back with bombs. This undoubtedly stopped the enemy from cutting up our advance party in Lozenge Wood. Throughout the whole action he behaved in a most gallant manner". CSM Smith is a son of Mr. Thomas Smith of Queen's Road, who has two other sons with the forces. John Smith is with the West York's and Seaman Thomas Smith is with the Navy.
Serjeant Joseph Smith was killed in action in the field on Easter Tuesday, 12th April 1917. He was aged 22 when he died and had been at the front since the outbreak of the war. Serving with the 8th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, the son of Thomas and Esther Smith, he was born and enlisted in Jarrow.
Medals: Military Medal M.M. presented on 11 October 1917 to his mother Victory Medal and British War Medal were received by his parents on 23 September 1921
Serjeant Joseph Smith M.M. (9402) has no known grave and is remembered on the Arras Memorial. He is commemorated on the Palmer Cenotaph, Jarrow and on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church, Jarrow.
Survived by his nieces and nephews across 4 generations. Lest We Forget
Sandra Beckitt
