The Fallen from Smisby

Thanks to more research by Garry Margerrison we now have finally identified the details for all of the fallen that we remember at Smisby. We now have not just their rank and service numbers but where they died and where they are buried including those from WW2 on who we previously had no information.

In the order in which they fell:

(summary table follows below)

Rifleman Henry Walker was a labourer at Elms Farm just along Derby Rd and was only 18 years old when he was killed in action in Flanders on 17^th Sept 1916. He was the youngest of those whose names we remember and although his body was never recovered, he is commemorated on memorials in Smisby and Thiepval in Somme, northern France.

Rifleman William Knight was born in Smisby although his parents later moved to Alton Grange Cottage at Ravenstone and to run the Burton office of Fisher’s solicitors. He served in the London Regiment, Queen Victoria’s Rifles and was 36 years old when killed in action by a shell at Ypres on 13^th Aug 1917 where he is buried at the Hooge cemetery.

Private James Smart served in the 16^th Battalion North Staffs Regiment and was born at Boundary, and later worked at one of the nearby pipe works. He died aged 21 on 3^rd August 1918 from wounds sustained in France and is buried here at St James.

Private Arthur Alfred Frederick Ketley was born in Annwell Place, Smisby to William and Phoebe and enlisted with the 9^th Battalion Essex Regiment before being sent to France where is died on 21^st Sept 1918 aged 24 from wounds sustained in Flanders. He is buried at the St Sever Cemetery in Rouen, France.

Lance Corporal Ernest Archer was born in Smisby and was a grocery assistant before enlisting with the 15^th Battalion Notts and Derbys Regiment also known as the Sherwood Foresters. He was killed in action at Flanders on 27^th Sept 1918 aged 26 years old and is buried in the Perth Military Cemetery in Ypres.

Corporal Thomas Insley was born in the School House in Smisby and was also a labourer at a local drainage pipe maker before enlisting with the 7^th Battalion Lincolnshire regiment. He died aged 39 on 30^th Oct 1918 from wounds that he sustained in Flanders and is buried in St James churchyard.

Private William Clifford Brazier was born in Parks Place, Smisby to Hannah and Charles a local clay miner. He was enlisted with the 8^th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders and was just 19 years old when killed in action in Flanders and is buried in Wez-Velain churchyard in Belgium.

Gunner Percy Wilfred Burrows served in the 15^th Battery Royal Artillery Heavy Anti-Aircraft initially defending Bristol then London during the Blitz. At the end of 1941 his regiment was en-route to the middle east when the Japanese invaded Malaya and they were sent to defend the airfields in Sumatra. The Japanese overran their position and he was captured in March 1942 and forced to work on the Burma Railway where he died on 4^th December 1942 aged 36. He is commemorated on the Yokohama Cremation Memorial in Japan.

Private George Thomas Britton was born in 1918 fought with the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry and was killed in action on 16^th Feb 1944 at the Anzio landings in Italy. He was 25 years old and is buried in the beach head war cemetery there in Italy.

Private George William Bailey was an upholsterer and French polisher who lived with his parents in Wood St Swadlincote at the outbreak of WW2. He enlisted in the Monmouth Regiment and aged 28 years, was killed in action in one of the final battles of the war in Europe at Reichswalde Forest on 12^th Feb 1945. He is buried in Reichswalde cemetery in Germany.

The following table is also available in pdf format using the link below
The Fallen from Smisby 

‘Lest We Forget’ – The Fallen from Smisby

Compiled November 2020 by G Margerrison – Churchwarden St James Smisby and based on data from the Forces War Records, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and the St James Registers.