WWI Casualty. Smith, Hunstanton, Norfolk. Suffolk Regiment. KIA 1918 Battle of Lys with Loyal N Lancs.

Correctly named 17735 Pte HG Smith Suffolk R

Herbert Geoffrey Smith was born to William and Eleanor in 1878 in Hunstanton, Norfolk.

By 1911, we see him living at 131 Dogsthorpe Road in Peterborough and working as a plasterer.

He enlisted into the 9th Bn Suffolk Regiment and was sent overseas to France in August 1915 earning himself his 1915 Star Trio.

Unfortunately his 15 Star is missing from his group.

We find a wound report for him dated December 1915 but no further information as to his injury.

He transferred to the 9th Bn Loyal North Lancashires and was with them as they Fought in the Battle of Lys in April 1918.

The Battle, in its entirety, took place between 7th and 29th April 1918, and is also known as the Lys Offensive, the Fourth Battle of Ypres, the Fourth Battle of Flanders and Operation Georgette.  It formed part of the 1918 German offensive in Flanders during World War I.

he aim of the Battle of Lys from the German point of view was to capture Ypres (Ieper) and the surrounding high ground around Messines.

Following two days of artillery bombardment including gas shells, on 9th April the German Sixth Army attacked the British First Army on a line between Armentieres and Festubert. Much of the line was held by a demoralised Portuguese Corps who were due to be relieved and they were unable to combat the new German ‘stormtrooper’ tactics. The eight German divisions advancing were around 100,000 men strong, with the Portuguese defending the front only totalling 20,000 men who were commanded by General Gomes da Costa, a future President of Portugal. 400 of the latter were killed, with 6,500 taken as prisoners of war. The retreat to Estairs was effectively inevitable due to the disparity in size between the two forces. The Portuguese were largely blamed by the British commanders for the retreat, particularly by General Horne placed all the blame for the defeat on the Portuguese writing in his report that the Portuguese troops failed to offer any serious resistance and that the British troops were much hampered by their retreat of the Portuguese.

The Germans broke through on nearly 10 miles (15 km) of front and advanced up to 5 miles (8 km) on the first day, reaching Estaires on the River Lys. In Divisional Reserve of 25th Division in the area around Ploegsteert Wood, on 9th April, 74th Infantry Division were detached from 25th Division and dispatched to XV Corps, First Army, to assist 40th Division as they fell back across the River Lys by defending the river crossings at Sailly-sur-la-Lys, Bac St Maur and Erquinghem.

Whilst 74th Infantry Brigade were moving towards the crossings, advance German units had already crossed the Lys and were occupying Croix du Bac and La Boudrelle. 11th Lancashire Fusiliers, assisted by D Company of 3rd Worcestershire Regiment, were successful in clearing Croix du Bac during the evening of 9th April, but were outflanked by a German attack at dawn the next morning.

9th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment made some progress into La Boudrelle but a strong German attack the following morning also pushed them back to Pont Vanuxeem, which they held with difficulty. At Sailly-sur-la-Lys, 3rd Worcestershire Regiment were in danger of being outflanked so also withdrew to join 11th Lancashire Fusiliers and form a defensive position at Le Sequenteau.

Engaged throughout the day on 10th April, 11th Lancashire Fusiliers put up a desperate fight in Steenwerck before the two battalions fell back to form another defensive line north of the town. Where they were joined by 9th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.

Herbert was killed in action on the 10th of April 1918, very early in the battle.

Reports show him missing in action in July 1918.

He is remembered upon the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium.

Both medals have original silk ribbons.