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Soldier – Smith, ‘Joe’ – Mortal Wound in Charge for Well Known Footballer

December 1916

Mexborough and Swinton Times, December 16, 1916

Killed at his Post
Well-Known Footballer

The Late Company Sergeant Major J Smith

Further details are now to hand confirming the death of Joe Smith, as he was popularly called, which took place on the 13th ult.

At 6 a.m. the Middlesex Regiment went over the parapet to take some enemy trenches and Sergeant Major Smith was in charge of a platoon. He was soon wounded, somewhat badly, but refused to go back, and soon after he received his mortal wound. Private Wilson, of the same regiment, who was with him in the charge, as we know this week and gives details.

The deceased had already been recommended for the DCM for bravery shown on July 28 at Delville Ward, when all his superior officers had fallen, and this, together with the fact that he was about to be given a commission, makes his loss more sad. Indeed could he have survived a few more days, it would have been on his way to England to purchase an officer’s kit.

He enlisted on January 18, 1915, and has had 12 months at the front. His brother, acting Sergeant Major Smith, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment was killed on July 5, and his brother William, who will be remembered as the Castleford town footballer, is at present Sergeant instructor in the West Yorks at Clipstone camp. Many letters of sympathy have been sent to the widow, for which she is extremely thankful.

Sergeant Smith, as is known, was a footballer of the first rank. He was born at Kilnhurst in 1889, but lived at Swinton most of his life. He married Miss F Fawcett, of Thurnscoe, a member of a very old and highly respected family there; and at the time of the listing was a member of the Chesterfield Town Football Club. Prior to joining Chesterfield he was with Birmingham, and Mr W Clayton, of the latter club, has written to Chesterfield suggesting that a match should be played at the latter place for the benefit of the widow, and the following wonderfully strong team has been provisionally chosen:

Goal Pearson (Albion); backs Western (Aston Villa) and Pennington (Albion); halfbacks Ducat (Aston Villa), Bowser (Albion) and Bishop (Wolves); forwards, Harrison (Wolves), Wallace (Aston Villa), Freeman (Burnley), Needham and Brookes (Wolves).

It is not expected that the match could be played for several weeks, as no date is open, but whenever played will prove of great interest, and the financial result would be substantial. Smith was always manly, honourable, and “played the game,” and his rapid promotion in the Football is The challenge showed that the greatest contest possible he was still to be found doing his duty.

From Roll of Honour Site:

http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Yorkshire/Swinton.html

Company Sergeant Major F/308, 17th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment).

Killed in action on almost the last day of the Somme at the Battle of the Ancre 13th November 1916. Aged 27.

Born Kilnhurst, enlisted Doncaster, resident Thurnow. He was a miner and worked at Hinkley Main and played for them at Football. He was subsequently signed by Birmingham City FC and later moved to Mansfield or Chesterfield FC. At the outbreak of war The Football League was suspended and Pals Regiments were formed, the Footballers’ Pals Regiment was the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment and Joe became a CSM.

He had two other brothers who enlisted and one also died on the Somme and is commenorated on the Thiepval Memorial and the other was gassed somewhere and returned to England and died at a later date. He was Mentioned in Despatches (MiD).

Son of Benjamin and Maria Smith, of Swinton, Rotherham; husband of Mrs. F. Morrell (formerly Smith), of 22, Roman St., Thurnscoe East, Rotherham.

In 1911 he was living with his brother-in-law Thomas Reader and his wife Ann, his brothers Isaiah and James and his sister Christiana; he was 21, a Colliery Dayman underground, born Kilnhurst, living at 139 Queen Street, Swinton. Buried in SERRE ROAD CEMETERY No.1, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I. Row G. Grave 19.