Local people who served in World War I - Hugh Smith.

Hugh Smith was born 16 July 1888. At the beginning of the War, he volunteered and joined the Essex Regiment, not the Kitchener's Norfolk Regiment as reported in newspapers of the time. He landed at Gallipoli with the Battalion 25 April 1915, and after eight days of fierce fighting was wounded. Hugh was evacuated to Malta and eventually arrived back in England in July.
He recovered and went with 9th Battalion Essex Regiment to France at the beginning of 1916. Hugh was killed 15 February 1916 in what became known as 'the Battle of the Craters' and is buried in Vermelles British Cemetery.

Hugh Smith's War Service was covered in Not Just a Name, by Roger Bullen, available from Mersea Museum.

There is a detailed biography of Hugh Smith in Alan Smith's story of the Smith family.
J 028 Hugh Smith 22 02 2014.pdf - opens in a new window.