Looking for James Smith

[lorraineosborne]

I am looking for information on James Smith who was a Gunner in the R.F.A in WW1. He died in 1915/1916 but I'm not sure what month. He lived in St Pancras and I think he was born in the London area. His wife died in February 1916 at 6 Laxton Place, St Pancras and I believe he died a couple of months before or after. More likely to be before because it is said the shock was partly what killed her.

The fact his surname is Smith and having no Regiment No. for him makes this a hard task. I've searched the usual CWG and SWDITFWW but can't dind enough information that matches what little I do know.

Please Help!

Lorraine Osborne|help||help||help|

[ash33au]

Hi Lorraine, could it be any of these?

Name: SMITH
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery
Unit Text: 66th Bty. 4th Bde.
Date of Death: 11/05/1916
Service No: 90635
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XVIII. L. 2.
Cemetery: AMARA WAR CEMETERY

Name: SMITH
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Royal Garrison Artillery
Secondary Unit Text: attd. 119th Heavy Trench Mortar Bty.
Date of Death: 22/08/1915
Service No: 93650
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 6.
Cemetery: ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Name: SMITH, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery
Unit Text: 25th Bty.
Date of Death: 20/03/1916
Service No: 82103
Additional information: Husband of Mrs. L. Smith, of 9, Park Crescent, Clapham Park Rd., London.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 5.
Cemetery: MERICOURT-L'ABBE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

[Peter Goodey]

Are you sure that he didn't have a second forename?

[ash33au]

There is a church next to to where his wife died.

[lorraineosborne]

Thanks for your reply. Itis unlikely to be the last one because that gives name of wife and address which don't match. The first one from the date is the more likely but unfortunately not enough information to tie it down.
When you added that there is a church next to where his wife died, were you meaning there would be a plaque in the church. I think this would only have his name though and not service number or date of death.
On his wife's death certificate, it does give the name of husband -soldier/regiment so I assume from that he didn't die until after although as I said the story is that he died first.
Lorraine Osborne

[lorraineosborne]

Hello Peter
Thanks for your reply. As far as I know he didn't have a middle name. On his marriage certificate, and wife's death certifiacate, he was just James.

Lorraine Osborne

[MarkJ]

Does the death certificate state that James was the informant?
If so, and the relationship is Husband, then he died after his wife and your family story would be mistaken. Most of us find similar things - where something is "common knowledge" within the family but it often turns out to be incorrect.

If the informant is not the husband, then who is it? What is that persons relationship to the deceased?

Mark

[lorraineosborne]

Hello
No James was not the informant - an Annie Mills whose address was 22 Munster Square, St Pancras was the informant - I presume just a friend.
Lorraine

[MarkJ]

No details on the relationship to the deceased on the certificate?
It should state something I would have thought - even if only "landlady" or "friend".

So if James was not the informant, he *could* have pre-deceased her or he could have been unable to act as the informant for some reason, perhaps too infirm or in hospital etc.

Mark

[ash33au]

Hi Lorraine, i googled the address and 8 Laxton Place, St Pancras (next door) is the site of a church

[ash33au]

No details on the relationship to the deceased on the certificate?
It should state something I would have thought - even if only "landlady" or "friend".

So if James was not the informant, he *could* have pre-deceased her or he could have been unable to act as the informant for some reason, perhaps too infirm or in hospital etc.

Mark

Or still fighting in France...

[lorraineosborne]

Or still fighting in France...



No definitely no relationship of Annie Mills
- just says AnnieMills present at death
22 Munster Square (could be Minster)
St. Pancras

One of the causes of death was Pulmonary Tuberculosis and the other Pregnancy 3months which would presume James Smith had been home in Novemeber 1915.

Interesting fact about the Church next door.

Lorraine

[lorraineosborne]

Hi Lorraine, i googled the address and 8 Laxton Place, St Pancras (next door) is the site of a church

Very interesting - I think the address is still there. Don't think electoral rolls could help me because I would think they would only give names - although I may be able to find when he joined up!

Lorraine

[Peter Goodey]

On his wife's death certificate, it does give the name of husband -soldier/regiment so I assume from that he didn't die until after although as I said the story is that he died first.

If the death certificate says "Wife of James...", he would still be alive. If it says "Widow of James...", he would be dead.

So what does it say?

[Geoffers]

Was he definitely in the RFA and not the RGA?

Do you know where he was born? - A thankless task looking for a name like SMITH, but can you identify him in the 1901 census?

These may help with a search of the soldiers who died in the Great War database or the National ROll of the Great War (both can be found on 'findmypast').

[lorraineosborne]

If the death certificate says "Wife of James...", he would still be alive. If it says "Widow of James...", he would be dead.

So what does it say?

hello Peter
It definitely says 'wife of'

Lorraine

[lorraineosborne]

Was he definitely in the RFA and not the RGA?

Do you know where he was born? - A thankless task looking for a name like SMITH, but can you identify him in the 1901 census?

These may help with a search of the soldiers who died in the Great War database or the National ROll of the Great War (both can be found on 'findmypast').

Sorry I haven't got back sooner. On his wife's death certificate it says 'Gunner, Royal Field Artillery' - that's all I have to go on for the army - but also Carman mineral water trade (previous occupation I assume). There is a James Smith (bottler min water) on the 1901 census living at 96 Whitfield street with (I think) - his brother Thomas Smith also a (Carman mineral water co), Thomas's wife and mother.
James's place of birth is given as Shoreditch, 'brother' and 'mother's' place of birth given as Bloomsbury. The trouble is when I follow these back, the place of birth changes to other areas of London - nothing goes smoothly on this search!

Lorraine