H. Smith

Horace Smith was born at Chelmarsh where he was baptised on 26th July, 1896. He was the son of Charles Randle Smith, a collier, and his wife, Jane. Jane died in 1899 and, in 1901, the family was boarding in Cradley, Worcestershire. Horace subsequently went to live with his uncle, Samuel John Smith, in St Albans.

Horace joined the Navy. At the outbreak of the war he was an Ordinary Seaman on H.M.S. Formidable, serving with the Channel Fleet to guard against a possible German invasion. On 1st January, 1915, Formidable was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U.24 with the loss of 547 lives - including that of Horace Smith.

Ordinary Seaman Horace Smith J/29893, is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Monument. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and the 1915 Star.