Pte 14176 Charles Smith – 24th Bn

[Tim Bell]

Identified by Terry Denham at IFCP
Charles Smith was a beef butcher when he enlisted as an original member of the 24th (Oldham Comrades) Bn at Oldham on 12 November 1914.  He trained with 4 Pln and was appointed paid Acting Lance Corporal on 01/02/1915.  The service record shows the 24th Bn's posting at Chadderton from 01/01/1915, Lanfairfechan from 08/03/1915, Grantham from 04/05/1915 and Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain from 12/09/1915.  Charles disembarked with 24th Bn in France on 08/11/1915, where they were soon designated as a Pioneer Battalion.  24th Bn was later transferred to the Italian Front and Charles was granted two weeks Home leave from 23/04/1917. Charles returned to England on 23/02/1919, where he was demobilised from 3rd Bn on 22/03/1919.  He made no Pension Claim. 
Charles was discharged from Reserve on 06/08/1919 in order to re-enlist in the Royal Navy 'SS/124290' on 07/08/1919.  He trained at HMS Vivid & Greenwich, prior toserving as a Stoker 1st Class on board HMS Columbine and Wryneck.
Charles returned home where he was admitted to Edinburgh Fever Hospital.  He died there in service from septicaemia on 16th April 1921.  Charles was buried at Chadderton Cemetery on 21 April 1921, plot F5.121.  The son Adam and the late Elizabeth Smith of 26 Manchester Road, Werneth, Oldham.

[Tim Bell]

Charles Smith's comemmemoration has been rejected.  He clearly died from disease while serving, yet a RN register has a notation that this is not a War Grave. Similar cases a month earlier work not noted as such, confirming the notes are inacurate and the decision is wrong. Ho hum.