Smith, Richard Alfred

Hull Pals Memorial Post. PRIVATE RICHARD ALFRED SMITH 12/1328. Born Hull, in 1896, Richard was the second of five children to William and Ada Smith of 39 Paisley Street, Hull. Both Richard and his elder brother William worked as Blacksmiths. Richard was described as 5 foot, 8 inches tall, 36-39 inch chest, 140 lbs weight. He enlisted at Hull City Hall on 30th December 1914 joining the 12th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, ‘The Sportsmen’, 3rd Hull Pals. It may have been entirely coincidental, but Richard and Harold Tock shared the same trade and were killed in action on the same day, 27th May 1916. Could it be that they knew each other and were sticking together when the same fate befell them both? Richard Alfred Smith is buried in Sucrerie Military Cemetery; he was 20 years old. He had served in the army for 1 year and 150 days. His army effects were left to his mother, Ada.