Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Private

Army Number : 41691

Unit : 8th Bn

Biography :

John Smith ('Jack') enlisted in Aylesbury in December 1915 aged 35, and joined The Worcestershire Regiment. In January 1918 he was in England, recovering from trench fever. He was transferred to The Bedfordshire Regiment and embarked from Folkestone for Boulogne on 31.3.1918. On 1.4.1918 he transferred to 8th Battalion The Leicestershire Regiment, and was reported missing on 27.5.1918. While a Prisoner of War near Givet in France he died of pneumonia brought about by influenza on 17.10.1918, aged 39. He is buried at French National Cemetery, France.

From the Wendover News, 'Wendover Remembers' dated 1 October 2018:

The last Wendover soldier to die during the war years was John Henry Smith a Private in the Leicestershire Regiment. He died in a Germen Prison of War Camp on October 17. Known as Jack, he was the son of William and Lucy Smith, the husband to another Lucy and the father of 5 year old Kathleen Lucy of 7, Sidney Terrace. On the 1911 census Jack is recorded as an ‘indoor servant’. He enlisted in Aylesbury in December 1915 aged 35 and joined the Worcestershire Regiment. He gave his occupation as ‘carman’. The Wendover News reported in January 1918 that Jack was home recovering from trench fever. He was transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment and embarked from Folkestone for Boulogne on 31 March. On April 1 he was again transferred this time to the 8th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment and was reported missing on 27 May. The official report from the Prisoner of War Camp at Aubrives near Givet, France, stated that the cause of death was pneumonia brought about by influenza.

Date of Birth : 12.2.1879

Place of Birth : Wendover, Buckinghamshire

Date of Death : 17.10.1918

Place of Death : Aubrives, France

Civil Occupation : car man

Period of Service : 1915-18

Conflicts : WW1

Places Served : France