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Flackwell Heath resident, Malcom Ludlow, is a relative of the Smith family and he recounts in the Local History Group's audio archives
the injustice done to his soldier relative when Joseph's invalidity pension was reviewed after the war and the amount severely reduced.
The consequence of such action caused Joseph to take his own life and the fight is now on to have Joseph's death recorded as a casualty of war.
However, the villagers obviously felt that Joseph should be recorded on the Flackwell Heath War Memorial regardless of the rules and so his name appears
along with that of other Smith families who sent their boys to the Front.
Joseph's brothers and cousins all served in the war but survived. Here are some of the family photos courtesy of Malcolm Ludlow.
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