The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons

Pte Henry Nicholas Smith A&SH died at Woodilee Asylum, Lenzie, Kirkintilloch on 17th November 1918. He is commemorated on the Haugh of Urr memorial but not by CWGC or SNWM. His obituary in the Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser says "from illness contracted on military service" (obit available if required).

His gravestone is posted at http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/viewtopic.php?t=685&mforum=scottishwargraves and again quotes "from illness contracted on military service".

His death entry from Scotlandspeople gives cause of death as 'general paralysis of the insane' (syphilis).

There are no Henry Smiths (A&SH) MIC on Ancestry, there are 2 Harry Smith and I can eliminate 1 on grounds of age leaving service number 351353 but unfortunately no service record on Ancestry.

Probably the authorities will not see the death as service attributable, but IF he died from the same disease that caused his discharge, would that count?

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

Hi Paul,

The Stewartry RoH states home service only, so not having any medal entitlement, he won't have a MIC. I checked to see if any cards had silver war badge references, but no. He enlisted with the 3/7th A&SH in October 1915, so his number would have been somewhere in the 4440 (276490) to 4590 (276596) range.

I think you will have great difficulty with this one unless a service file turns up. Even then, as you mention above, it will have to show him discharged due to the same condition.

Stuart
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www.sonsofgalloway.org.uk
5th KOSB
Stewartry RoH
ATC Auchencairn book

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 11:20 am Post subject:

Did anything come of this? Is it worth investigating further?

Thanks

Adam

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 3:56 pm Post subject:

Adam - the short answer is no and no!

There is a lack of any military records and there is nothing in any local newspaper.
This thread could be marked as "no further action"
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Ken

Adam Brown · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 4:14 pm Post subject:

Thanks for checking Ken. I'll do that.

Cheers

Adam

Matt Maxwell · Joined: 29 Nov 2016 Posts: 2 Location: Merseyside

Hi, this is my first post on this forum & I realise that this post is marked
"No Further Action".
However I believe that I have additional information that relates to the above
subject Henry Nicholas Smith.
I was recentley adding details of the Smith family to Urr churchyard on the
Find A Grave site.On doing so I saw that the above H N Smith was the son of
John Smith & his wife Adelaide.
On searching the records on FindMyPast I found the records for
Harry Smith 3/7th Batt A&S H Territorial Force No 4570
His home address was as shown on the above death record. Lenth of
service 159 days,(25/10/1915 to 29/3/1916)
Cause of discharge- Being presently in Dumfries Asylum.
General paralysis-Total Disablement.
Originated in civil life,not caused by nor aggravated
by service.
Hope this is some help.
Rgds Matt.

David McNay · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 2:27 am Post subject:

Thanks for the post Matt and welcome to the forum.

unfortunately his service record states "not caused by nor aggravated by service" which rules him out for inclusion by the CWGC.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 10:42 am Post subject:

Hi Matt and welcome.
Many thanks for that information. I have added the details to my own notes and have updated the entry on the Urr Parish War Memorial thread to read:

PRIVATE H. N. SMITH, A&SH
Not listed by CWGC/SNWM
Henry Nicholas Smith, Private - Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Age 35.
Harry was a waiter and was living at 46 Renfield Street, Glasgow when he enlisted in October 1915 He was discharged from the army in March 1916 and admitted to the Crichton Royal Institution in Dumfries. Harry died of “general paralysis of the insane” at Woodlee Asylum, Lenzie, Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, an illness “contracted while on military service”.
Born 1883 at Urr. Son of John and Adelaide Marie (Le Messurier) Smith of Bridge End, Spottes, Urr.
Died on 17 November 1918 and buried in Urr Parish Churchyard.
Updated 4/12/2016 thanks to information from Matt Maxwell.

http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?p=32053#32053
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Ken

Matt Maxwell · Joined: 29 Nov 2016 Posts: 2 Location: Merseyside

Thanks for the welcome Gents, glad the info was helpfull.
Just going to have a stroll around this site.
Matt

David McNay · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2020 11:51 pm Post subject:

No pension card found for this man unfortunately so unable to confirm cause of discharge.