A very poignant letter from the mother of Herbert Henry Smith from Mansfield to the War Office and received on the 11 February 1918
“Dear Sir, I would thank you very much if you could kindly forward to me any belongings of my son, Pte HH Smith of the 1st Batt Sherwood Foresters……..he died through wounds received in action on his was way down to the main dressing station on November 20 1917”
The Infantry Records Department of No. 6 District (Lichfield) were not instructed to dispatch Hebert’s belongings to Sarah (his mother) until 15th March 1918 and she finally received them around 25th March.
Herbert is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery and Commemorated on St Lawrence the Martyr Roll of Honour.
Sarah Jane Smith received a pension for the loss of her son.
Herbert’s Service with the Sherwood Foresters
Herbert was called up for Service on the 16th November 1916 and posted to the 5th Reserve Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters two days later. Following training in Saltfleet he embarked for France on the 4th October 1917 and arrived at the 14th Infantry Base Depot. He was posted to the 1st Battalion and joined them ‘in the field’ on the 18th October.
At the time of his death the 1st Battalion were holding the front line trenches near to Bellevue and were being heavily shelled. During the month of November the 1st Battalion lost 2 Officers and 21 other ranks killed, 63 other ranks wounded.
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 
The Robinsons on that plaque might be my grandmothers brothers. One was MIA in 1916 the other died of wounds in 1918 leaving a wife and child born after he died.
Evening Paul – thanks for the comment – and how sad that the two brother were killed, cheers Mike