SMITH Albert George

On The Roll of Honour

Albert was born on 4th August 1899 in Badwell Ash. His father Albert Largent was 26 whilst his mother Alice née Largent was 24.

In the 1901 Census: Albert was aged 1. He lived in The Street (possibly White Horse Yard) with his mother Alice, aged 25, who was described as a Laundress together with his grandfather, George, a widower, aged 69 and who was retired with “no occupation formerly and an Agricultural Labourer”.

In the 1911 Census: Albert was now aged 11 and living in White Horse Yard with Albert Largent, aged 37, a Farm Labourer; Alice Largent, aged 36, Arthur Wallace Largent, aged 8, Amos William Largent, aged 6, Mildred Alice Largent, aged 5, Phyllis Ellen Largent, aged 3 and Robert Allen Largent, aged 1.

Military and War: Albert enlisted with the 6th Northamptonshire Regiment on 29th September 1917 in Bury St Edmunds. He was Private No: 50194. His Regiment was mobilised on 18th December 1917. His peacetime job was listed as a “Ploughman” according to his Military Records.

In July 1918 he fought in both France and Flanders. A month later it was recorded that he had received a severe injury to his left hand, a gunshot wound, causing 30% disablement. In 1919, he was still in the Army and by this time he was 20 when he was awarded a Silver War Badge No: B200918. He was also awarded the War and Victory Medals.

Post War: In July 1921 he married Mildred Maud Churchyard in the “Hartismere Registration District of Suffolk.” They had 2 sons and a daughter.

The only other details about his life relate to the fact that in October 1922 he was offered a job as a postman. Unfortunately he had lost his Discharge Certificate when, having asked his mother to burn a box of papers, the certificate was accidentally left in the box. A replacement was issued and presumably he was able to take the job.

Albert died in August 1989 in Bury St Edmunds at the age of 90.

Find out more

BBC Radio Suffolk Interview : Pat

BBC Radio Suffolk’s Lesley Dolphin discusses the history of Badwell Ash and interviews Patricia Monk from Badwell Ash History Society on the 22nd March about the forthcoming […]

Read more...

WWI Exhibition

To commemorate and celebrate the men and women who went to WW1 from the Parish of Badwell Ash, The Badwell Ash History Society held an […]

Read more...