Born: 1893, Halifax
Died: 20 September 1916, Somme
Buried: Peake Wood Cemetery, Fricourt
Address: 10 Tentercroft, Baildon
Parents: Jonas & Mary Ann
Spouse: Mary, nee Bailey
Siblings: Emma, Ann, Arthur, Bertha, Edward, Mabel, Dick
Occupation: Menston Asylum
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Sgt
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Baildon
Children:
Regiment: Duke of Wellington’s
Ephraim Smith
Ephraim was born in Halifax
around 1893, the second youngest
of nine children of quarry delver
Jonas Smith and his wife Mary
Ann.
At the time of the 1911 census he
was living with his parents at Rose
Cottage, Hayes Lane, Mixenden
and was given as a worsted presser.
Sometime after the census was
taken, Ephraim moved to Baildon
and married a local girl, Mary
Bailey.
His war service is first mentioned
in a story in the Shipley Times &
Express, published on 22 October
1915, which features the large
number of relatives Mary has
fighting in the war. At
this stage, Ephraim is a
lance corporal.
On 10 March 1916 we
learn: “The promotion
of Cpl E Smith, whose
home is at 81
Tentercroft, Baildon,
will meet with the
approval of a large
number of people in the
district. He has attained
the rank of Sergeant…
“At present he is in hospital in
Boulogne, suffering from
appendicitis.”
On 13 October 1916, the paper
reported:
Sgt Ephraim Smith of
the 10th West Riding
Regt of 10 Tentercroft,
Baildon, was killed in
action in France on
September 20th
He joined the colours
about three weeks after
war was declared and
went to France in August
1915 where he has seen
much fighting.
He was a native of
Ogden near Halifax where he was
well known, his cheerful
disposition having won him many
friends amongst whom his death is
keenly felt.
He had a reputation as a sportsman
in the Halifax district, especially
among the Halifax Harriers. He
held the championship for a long
time, carrying off many valuable
trophies.
He had worked at the Halifax
Infirmary but at the time of
enlistment was an attendant at the
Menston Asylum.
Mrs Smith has two brothers serving
with the colours, one who is
wounded and hospital in Wigan,
namely Pte John Bailey, West
Riding Regt, and another Pte James
William Bailey, of the
Northumberland Fusiliers and now
serving somewhere in France.
