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15409 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
(8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment on original Roll of Honour)
Harry Smith was around born in Dunmow, Essex around 1880, one of six surviving children of John and Emma Smith. Both his parents were employed as silk weavers and the family lived in Gregory Gardens before moving to 21 Station Road. He and his parents later moved to 6 Girling Street, near to his brother Ernest and his family.
Prior to enlisting with the Suffolk Regiment Harry was employed as a general labourer. He first served in France on 25 July 1915 when the battalion which formed part of 53rd Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division went across.
It is not known when he transferred to the 2nd Battalion which by October 1915 formed part of 76th Brigade, 3rd Division. In the summer of 1916 the 3rd Division like the 18th Division saw action in the opening phases of the Battle of the Somme at Albert (1 - 13 July), Bazentin Ridge (14 - 17 July), Delville Wood (15 July – 3 September) and in the final phase on the Ancre (13 - 18 November). A report in the Suffolk and Essex Free Press in November 1916 lists Harry as having been wounded. It is not known when he returned to his unit.
By September 1917 the battalion was in Belgium and saw action during the Third Battle of Ypres (31 July – 10 November), more commonly known as Passchendaele at the battles of the Menin Road (20 - 25 September) and Polygon Wood (26 September - 3 October).
Harry was killed in action on 27 September 1917. There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, near Ypres, Belgium. A Cross of Remembrance was laid at the Tyne Cot Memorial in April 2006 and April 2009.
Harry was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Thirteen months later his older brother Ernest lost his life serving with the Army
Service Corps in France and is also remembered on the Sudbury War Memorial.
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