I was born in late 1888, in High Wycombe, the youngest child of David and Rosa Smewin. I lived in the Parish of All Saints, on Desborough Avenue, which was at the time on the edge of High Wycombe. My siblings were called David, Reuben, George and Clara. I worked for Messrs. Nicholls and James before March 1916 as a chair maker.
In March 1916, I signed up in the Territorials and was posted to the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, no. 4498. I arrived in France in June 1916, in the rank of Private. Shortly after arrival, I was transferred to the 10th Lincs. and assigned a new number, 43538.
I fought in the Battle of the Somme from July 1916, and saw much heavy fighting. However, I was wounded in September 1916 in the Battle of Flers Courcelette. I was in the 25th General Hospital, France until I was released in February 1917 and I returned to the Front. On April 9th, 1917, I was killed instantly, presumably from a rifle shot or shell fire on Vimy Ridge. I am remembered on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Researched by Simon Arnold and Ben Coombes, John Hampden Grammar School
