Current Information:

8, Ashmore Road, Maida Vale

Born-Barking

Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France

On 16th September, 1915, the 11th Royal Fusiliers battalion of 54 Brigade, 18th Division moved into the front line near Fricourt on the Somme. The enemy often seemed to know when an inter-battalion relief was taking place in the front line opposite them and then did as much as they could to disrupt it. This meant targeting the approach communication trenches with their artillery and keeping up a high level of machine-gun and rifle fire. Reliefs therefore were times of extra danger and many a soldier was killed or wounded during them. This may have been the fate of Henry Smith on this day, but the battalion diary makes no mention of any casuaslties.