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- Smith
I am trying to find information about my paternal grandfather.
Henry Smith was born 1880 in Pip-cu-Lyde, Herefordshire. Little more is known about him until his death - He entered a theatre of war (France and Flanders) on 3.5.15 and was killed only three weeks later during the fighting in the Ypres Salient.
According to the regimental history, at the time he would have joined them "in the field" 2 KSLI was in the thick of the 2nd Battle of Ypres and suffered major casualties.
On 25th May, the battalion was engaged in the terrible close fighting on Bellewaerde Ridge which began on 24th May - some of the most intense of the whole war - which involved one of the early German gas attacks. They were in action near Railway Wood (which still exists) on 24th and 25th, dug in near Whitteport Farm, and moved out of the line to the rear on 26th.
The Germans assaulted the KSLI line with great ferocity and Smith was undoubtedly one of those killed during their infantry attacks or by the heavy shell or machine-gun fire which contiunued for both days on 2 KSLI positions.
Nearly 200 officers and men were killed or wounded in 2 KSLI alone on 24-25th - one of the greatest KSLI losses in one action.
My father was born in November 1914 to Henry and Laura (nee Pitt - later Sidaway).
I am trying to find any information relating to parents, siblings etc.
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