Private Frank SMITH 46648
1st and 3rd Battalions, Northamptonshire Regiment
Frank Smith 1898-1955
Frank Smith was born in May 1898 in Spratton and baptised later that month. He was the son of Reuben Smith, a farm labourer from a long established family in Spratton, and his wife Elizabeth (née Buckby) and brother of John William and Abraham. The family lived in Smith Street, opposite Home Farm. All three brothers served in the First World War and sadly, John William was killed in action. After leaving school, Frank worked as a farm labourer and on 3 February 1917 he married Kate York in Brixworth Registry Office. Their daughter Elizabeth Emma was born on 21 June 1917. The couple lived in a small cottage in Spring Gardens on Middle Turn, Spratton, (now Brixworth Road).
Frank was called up into the Army Reserve on 3 November 1916 when he was 18 (and before he married Kate) and he enlisted in the 3rd Northamptonshire Regiment on 17 April 1917 giving his occupation as a farm waggoner. He was sent overseas with the British Expeditionary Force on 1 July 1917 (a few days after the birth of his daughter). A year later he was badly injured with gun-shot wounds to his arm and shoulder when his battalion was fighting on the front line in the Cambrin area. Frank was discharged from the regiment on 5 March 1919 as no longer fit for service. He was issued with a Silver War Badge to wear at home to show he had been wounded in the war. Frank was also awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Frank may have died in June 1955 aged 57, but this has not been confirmed.
Silver War badge
Silver War badge
EXPLORE SECTIONS
MEN WHO SERVED
- Private Charles Herbert AUSTIN (known as Herbert)
- Corporal Frank AUSTIN
- Lance Corporal James William AUSTIN
- Private John Samuel AUSTIN
- Sergeant William Henry AUSTIN
- Sergeant Bertie Henry BALDERSON
- Corporal Frederick Charles BALDERSON MM
- Lance Corporal Robert Samuel BALDERSON
- Private George William BUCKBY (known as William)
- Private Henry Andrew BUCKBY
- Richard Henry Horne BUCKBY
- Transport Sergeant Thomas BUCKBY MM
- Company Quartermaster Sergeant William Gander BUCKBY
- William Archibald COPSON (known as Archibald)
- Sapper Ebenezer COPSON
- Private Ernest Edward COPSON
- Pioneer Henry Owman COPSON (known as Harry)
- Private James COPSON
- Private John William COPSON
- Private Joseph COPSON
- Private Arthur Sidney GOODEN (known as Sidney)
- Private Hugh Henry GOODEN
- Sergeant Joseph Eric GOODEN (known as Eric)
- Private Arthur Thomas HAYTER
- Driver Frank Leonard HAYTER
- Private Harold Herbert HAYTER
- Lance Corporal John Charles HAYTER DCM (known as Jack)
- Private Walter Ernest HAYTER
- Ordinary Seaman Arthur Charles HORNE
- Private John William HORNE (known as William)
- Lance Corporal Lewis HORNE
- Private Thomas HORNE
- Driver John Henry LEESON
- Corporal Joseph Henry LEESON (known as Harry)
- Thomas Baden Powell LEESON (known as ‘Bard’)
- Private Albert MANNING
- Corporal Amos MANNING
- Private Arthur Cecil MANNING
- Private George MANNING
- Sergeant George William MANNING
- Sapper Henry Stanley MANNING (known as Stanley)
- Private John Thomas MANNING
- Private John William MANNING
- Air Mechanic Nathaniel MANNING
- Driver/Saddler Samuel MANNING
- Gunner George Albert MARTIN
- Private Joseph MARTIN
- Private Thomas Henry MARTIN (known as Harry)
- Private Thomas Walter MARTIN (known as Walter)
- Pioneer Walter Ernest MARTIN
- Sergeant William Higgs MARTIN, DCM
- Private Arthur Walter PAGE
- Private Francis Samuel PAGE (known as Sam)
- Private Frank PAGE
- Private Stephen PAGE
- Lieutenant George REEVE MC MM
- Private Richard Henry REEVE (known as Harry)
- Private Samuel REEVE
- Private Sidney Philip REEVE
- Private Frederick Thomas RICHARDSON
- Private John William RICHARDSON
- Private Percy John Partridge RICHARDSON
- Private Abraham Bert SMITH
- Private Alfred SMITH
- Private Frank SMITH 46648
- Private John Samuel SMITH
- Private John William SMITH (6942)
- Private John William (William John) SMITH (8964)
- Private Charles Walter WADHAMS
- Private John Edward WADHAMS
- Private Thomas Edwin WADHAMS
- Private William WADHAMS