Harold Smith was born 8th December 1895 at Burslem, Staffordshire to parents Samuel Smith born c1854 at Burslem and Elizabeth née Marsh born c1857 at Burslem.

Samuel and Elizabeth had married in 1884 at Sneyd Holy Trinity.

Elizabeth had previously been married to John Scragg, the marriage took place in 1877 at Goldenhill.

Elizabeth had 2 children from her previous marriage, Henry Scragg born 1878 at Tunstall and Emily Scragg born 1881.

Samuel and Elizabeth Smith would have three children Mary Smith born 1885, Annie Smith born 1891 and Harold born 1895, all born in Burslem.

The 1901 Census shows Harold’s family living at 32 Spencer Street, Burslem. Elizabeth is shown as the family head aged 44. Samuel is not present as he is recorded as having died aged 47 in 1901. In life he had been employed as a Potters Dipper.

The other occupants are Mary Smith aged 15 a Potters Transferrer, Annie Smith aged 10, Harold Smith aged 6, Henry Scragg aged 23 a Bricklayers Labourer, Emmie Hilditch born Burslem a 2 year old Nurse Child, a term used to describe Children who were placed with informal foster families for various reasons, including the death of a parent, poverty, children born to unmarried mothers, or parents whose demanding occupations prevented them from raising a child and Edward Mellor, a boarder aged 36 and a Carpenter/Joiner born in Ireland.

The 1911 Census shows Harold, single, a 16 year old Potters Clay Carrier, now living at 81 Reid Street, Burslem, head being John Nicholls aged 32 a Potters Labourer born Burslem, also his older half sister Emily Nicholls Née Scragg a 30 year old Potters Transferrer born Burslem, John Nicholls aged 10 born Burslem, Beatrice Nicholls aged 7 born Burslem. Mother Elizabeth Smith is shown as a 54 year old widow and Mother in Law, sister Annie Smith aged 20, single, a Potters Transferrer, Leonard Lander aged 4 a Nephew. Although Harold's sister Mary married Harry Lander in 1909, Leonard was not Mary's son.

Mary and Harry Lander a Potters Placer can be found on the 1911 census living at 24 Port Vale Street, Burslem with child Harry Lander Smith, the 1911 census details an ambiguity of how many children they had, initially 4 stating 2 died 2 alive then crossing out and stating just 1 child born and alive.

Harold enlisted to the Army on the 15th February 1915 at Llandudno, he is described as a 20 year old Slip Maker, 5’2” tall with a 34” chest, 2.5” expansion, brown eyes and brown hair, weighing 109 pounds. He was placed in the Machine Gun Section of the 19th (Bantam) Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. This was a Battalion formed specifically of men under the height of 5’3”. His given address being 81 Reid Street, Burslem.

He entered France on the 1st June 1916 where the Battalion took part in actions at Loos and the Ancre. On the 4th January 1917 he was admitted to the 34th Casualty Clearing Station with Trench Foot and was subsequently evacuated to England on the Hospital Ship Warily on the 10th March 1917. On the 12th March 1917 he was admitted to Clopton War Hospital at Stratford Upon Avon suffering from trench foot and Impetigo. He was discharged back to duty on the 5th of May 1917 and posted to the 10th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers on the 7th July 1917.  At the age of 22 Harold was killed in action on the 4th August 1917. According to the battalion war diary they were in front line trenches at Louveral, France. No activity was reported on the 4th August 1917 but in previous days the enemy had made efforts to raid advanced posts. On the 5th 2 soldiers are recorded killed.

He is buried in the Louveral Military Cemetery in France, plot number C.8.

He is also remembered on the Royal Doulton WW1 Kilngate Memorial.

His death was reported in the Staffordshire Sentinel dated 31st August 1917 and 8th September 1917 where he is confirmed living at 81 Reid Street and was previously employed at Royal Doulton, Burslem.

Mrs. Smith, 81, Reid-Street, Burslem, has received official news that her son, Pte. Harold Smith, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was killed in action, on August 4th. Pte. Smith joined the colours in February, 1915. A brother is serving with the colours and also two brothers-in-law. Prior to his enlistment he worked for Messrs. Doulton's, Ltd., Bursiem.

For his service he earned the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

WW1 pension cards show that his mother was awarded a weekly pension of 14 shillings from the 26th February 1918.

Harold's brother in law Percy Wain served with the 11th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment as 18889 Private Wain, he was a Storeman and was discharged unfit for service on the 4th May 1916 after having had an accidental injury to his right knee when he fell into a hole. He had enlisted on the 27th September 1915 whilst living at 81 Reid Street and being married to Annie Smith . They were married on the 3rd August 1913 at Burslem St Pauls. We see whilst serving they had 2 children Elsie Edith Wain born 15.12.1908 at Hanley and Frederick Wain (Smith illegitimate) born at Burslem 23.04.12. Percy was issued Silver War Badge number 496357 and because he did not serve abroad he was not awarded any medals.

The 1921 census shows Percy Wain (36) an out of work Potters Labourer living with Wife Annie (34) and children Frederick (9), Ivy (1) and mother in law Elizabeth 65 at 81 Reid Street Burslem. 

The 1939 register shows Percy (12.10.1889) a General Labourer and Annie an Invalid (10.03.1891) and son Frederick Smith (23.04.1912) a General Labourer living at 81 Reid Street, Burslem.  

Brother in law Harry Lander Served with the North Staffordshire Regiment as Private 202288 then with Machine Gun Corps as Private 159452 he was discharged 31.04.1920, he earned the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

The 1921 census shows Mary and Harry Lander a Potters Placer living at 24 Port Vale Street, Burslem with children Harry (12) Nellie (8), Harold (2), Annie (1) and baby John.

The 1939 register shows Mary (31.10.1885) and Harry Lander (21.05.1883) a General Labourer living at 29 Gordon Road, Goldenhill, Staffordshire with John (16.03.1921) a Marl Labourer, Arthur (19.08.24) a Colliery Labourer and Annie (27.01.19) a Tile Fettler.

SOURCES.

Smith /Scragg marriage https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=IBatNqrS5kvdQL%2Bbkim4jw&scan=1 

The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England 

and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2163; Folio: 42; Page: 11; GSU roll: 6097273

Harold Smith birth https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=1ZCx6%2BrIBQsh3Sd0PrCF6A&scan=1

1901 census Class: RG13; Piece: 2594; Folio: 128; Page: 36

Samuel Smith death 

FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911

The National Archives; London, England, UK; War Office: Soldiers' Documents, First World War Wo363 

Military-Genealogy.com, comp. UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/645597653?terms=28306%2Csmith

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/669631456?terms=28306%2Csmith 

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/691500604?terms=28306%2Csmith 

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/669626128?terms=28306%2Csmith 

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/image/326794451/smith-harold-page-218-uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920?terms=28306%2Csmith 

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/sub-image/619610283/smith-harold-uk-british-army-registers-of-soldiers-effects-1901-1929?terms=28306%2Csmith

https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/sub-image/687408388/smith-h-uk-wwi-hospital-registers-1914-1919?terms=28306%2Csmith 

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19170831/115/0006