IN MEMORY: family stories and remembrance

Born: Aug. 7, 1897 (from Birth Certificate)

 

At: 132 Kennsington Park Road, Kennington, England

 

To: Charlotte Helen (Case) & Edward Charles Henson Smith (Chemist)

 

Studied to be an Archeologist

 

Joined the Royal Army Medical Core as a Private, November 20, 1912 (was 15 yrs, 3 mths old – record of enlistment shows date of birth as Aug. 7, 1896)

 

Nov. 1, 1915 – Discharged from Royal Army Medical Core having been granted Commission as a 2^{nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.}

Promoted to Lieutenant

Stationed in Egypt at some point (have picture dated January 1916 in Alexandria)

Injured in the Battle of the Somme, July 1, 1916

Commanding Officer Captain Eric Baldwin

Led Platoon #10

Going over the top had revolver shot out of his right hand removing his thumb

Many shrapnel holes in his back, back of legs and behind his ears

Only story he told his family was that a friend of his was standing in the next area singing "Onward Christian Soldiers" when a bomb went off. Leslie looked back at where his friend was and the only thing left were his hands on the ladder. From that day onwards Leslie never believed in God again.

 

Believe he joined the London Mounted Brigade as a driver before joining the Honorable Artillery Company.

 

June 28, 1920 – joined the Honorable Artillery Company as a driver

 

Jan. 26, 1922 – Discharged from the Honorable Artillery Company

 

Married: Aug. 4, 1930

 

At: The Registry Office in Wandsworth, England

 

To: Florence Jane Clayton (b. March 2, 1906, Oxted, England; d. June 21, 1994, Campbell River, BC Canada)

 

Children

Colin Clayton Henson Smith (b. Oct. 28, 1932, London, England; d. 2010(?), Great Yarmouth, England)

Valerie Lesley Smith (b. Feb. 14, 1938, London, England)

James Leslie Waines (b. Feb. 4, 1965, Toronto, Ontario Canada)

Charles Edward Waines (b. Sept. 8, 1973, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada)

 

WWII – Lieutenant Colonel, Middlesex Regiment

 

Also in the London Scottish at some point

 

Retired from Civil Service

 

Emigrated to Canada 1966 – Lived in Port Colborne, Ontario

 

Died: Sept. 21, 1979

 

At: Port Colborne, Ontario Canada