Source: Newspaper clipping from London Free Press – April 24, 1916.
Note: Brother-in-Law to Private J.I. Betts who was married to his sister. They served together in the 18th Battalion. He served in the Battalion with his brother, Private Henry Thomas Smith, reg. no. 53852. He survived the war.
219 OF 18TH LEFT, WRITES PTE. BETTS
Stratford Soldier Says Col. Wigle’s Men Are Hard Hit.
LETTER IS DATED APRIL 3.
Following Battle in Which Three Stratford Men Fell.
Stratford, April 22 – A first-had Tribute to the gallantry and sacrifice of the men of the 18th Battalion in their recent glorious but costly achievement at St. Eloi is to hand in a letter to Mr. and Mrs. J. Smith of 34 Inverness street, from Pte. J. Betts[i], their son-in-law, written in Belgium the day after the engagement began. In the battle at least three Stratford soldiers were killed – Pte. Leslie Rankin[ii], Pte. John R. McDonald and Pte. John Smith, besides several being wounded. Pte. Betts’ letter is a message of condolence to Mr. and Mrs. Smith in the loss of their son and the writer’s brother-in-law and it throws a touching light in the fortunes of the fighting 18th. It reads:
“By the time you receive this, no doubt you will have been informed of the death of your loving son, Jack. It is a hard blow but I thank the Lord that he never felt any pain. He was always a soldier and a man, wherever duty called him, and he died for home and country.
The 18th were in action on April 3 and during the bombardment Jack and two others got it together. We gave had an awful time, and only 219 are left of the gallant 18th.[iii]
I feel too full to write any more just now, so will wait a letter from you, hoping the Lord will help you to bear your sorrow. The three heroes were buried to-day in our Canadian cemetery, and, believe me, this resting place will not go unattended while the lord spares me. God bless you all.”
Pte. Betts’ statement about 219 men being left is tame by some to mean 219 of the Stratford company, but this would hardly be [commensurate] with the losses suffered recently.
Source: London Free Press – April 24, 1916.
[i] Private Joseph Issac Betts, reg. no. 53775. He survived the war.
[ii] This may be an error in reporting as the CWGC web site search shows no Canadian soldier surnamed Rankin as being killed in April, 1916. There is a Private John Reginald D. Ranton from Stratford, Ontario that attested November 21, 1914 in Stratford. This may be whom Betts is referring to but it appears that Ranton survived the war.
[iii] This is indicative of the “wastage” in men during the Battalion’s service in Belgium and France since its arrival on the Continent in September 1915. This translates to approx. 170 men leaving the Battalion due to wounds, illness, re-assignment or death per month starting in October 1915, the first full month of service on the Continent.
Summary of Service for Private John Smith, reg. no. 53850
| Date | Event | Remarks |
| September 2, 1890 | Born | Born at Rotherife [Rotherhithe], Kent, England. Father is Mr. H.J. Smith. |
| October 22, 1914 | Enlisted | Enlists at Stratford, Ontario. He is a 24-year old “Bill Poster” who is a member of the militia (likely the 28th Regiment). He stands 5’ 6.75” and has no distinctive marks. A member of “C” Company. A note states, “Teeth Fairly Good” |
| November 11, 1914 | Anti-Typhoid Inoculations | |
| November 22, 1914 | Anti-Typhoid Inoculations | |
| December 15, 1915 | Vaccinated | |
| April 1915 | Assigns Pay | Assigns $16.00 of his pay to his mother, Mrs. H.J. Smith residing at 161 David Street, Stratford, Ontario. Record later amended address to 24 Inverness Street, Stratford, Ontario. |
| April 24, 1915 | Arrived England | Arrived in England via the S.S. Grampian. |
| September 14, 1915 | Embarks for France | The 2nd Canadian Contingent moves to the Continent to fight. |
| April 2, 1916 | Killed in Action | The circumstances of Private Smith’s death are not clear as far as the 18th Battalion War Diary for the dates of April 1, 2, and 3. There is mention of a German raid on the trenches on April 2, 1916 but no mention of casualties. It is not until the following day that the War Diary acknowledges that 3 other ranks were killed in action.
There is a notation on his Casualty Form – Active Service that state that he was “Killed in Action. (Blown to pieces by H.E. shell.). |
| August 26, 1920 | Memorial Cross Despatched | Memorial Cross (# C19905) for Mrs. H.H. Smith (since deceased) dispatched to Mr. H.J. Smith residing at 139 Bay Street, Stratford, Ontario. |
| September 7, 1920 | Graves Registration | Final report by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission indicates that Private John Smith is buried at the Ridge Wood Military Cemetery located at West-Vlaanderen, Belgium at plot reference II.N.8.
He lies along with 42 other members of the 18th Battalion who are interned there. |
| December 9, 1920 | Memorial Scroll Dispatched | Memorial Scroll, no. 73860, dispatched to Mr. H.J. Smith. |
| December 31, 1920 | Plaque Dispatched | Plaque, no. P23150, dispatched to Mr. H.J. Smith. |
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 