He was posted to the base depot B.E.F. France on 26th July 1916, he was rationed up to and for that day. Order was part 2 No. 171 issued by W. L. Stephenson, 2/Lieut. & acting Adjutant, 2/1st Hunts. Cyclist Battalion. The order was issued at Well Camp Alford at 8-00 p.m., 28th July 1916.
When he arrived in France he was posted into the
1st Royal Berkshire Regiment with an new Army number of 39264.ANOTHER GODMANCHESTER MAN KILLED IN ACTION.
We regret to announce that the sad intelligence reached Godmanchester the latter end of last week that Pte. Horace Smith was killed in action. Deceased was not a Godmanchester man, but came to reside here some years ago and was in the employ of Mr. A. Bawn at Rectory Farm. He was, however, later on an employee at Messrs. Brown and Goodman’s steam flour mill. With his friend, Herbert James, he volunteered fro the Army soon after the war commenced, joining the Hunts. Cyclists, and was subsequently drafted to the front. Deceased bore a high character in Godmanchester. He was on the Committee of the C. E. T. S., and a regular attendant at the Mission Hall services, and while he was at the front Mr. Hunnybun read to the congregation a very nice letter received from him, in which he said that he often thought of the Saturday night’s prayer meeting in the little room at the Mission all, and as the Saturdays came round how he could draw a picture of those assembled there. He leaves a widow and one little girl. – At the service on Sunday evening Mr. Hunnybun, alluding to his death, said several families in Godmanchester were passing through great sorrow by the loss of those, through the war, who were dear to them, but quite recently one had lost her husband who used to meet together to worship in that Hall. He was sure the sympathy of all would go out to the widow in her sad hour of need, but as regard to the departed, they need not concern themselves about him, because he had entered his eternal rest.
As Corporal 39264, in the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment. Killed in action Sunday 29th April 1917 in France & Flanders - one source indicates that he was killed by a sniper.
He was born Eaton Socon, enlisted Huntingdon, resident Godmanchester. He previously served as Private 1218 in the Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion. He is commemorated on Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 7.
He left a widow and a female child when he was killed.
If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com
Godmanchester War Memorial.12/07/2017