Lance Corporal Joe Vernon Smith MM

Joe was born on 30th April 1893. He worked for his father, in his varnishmaking business in Liverpool before the war - and when he met Sarah Banks Rich. He was in the 6th Reserve Rifle Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment. According to his service records, he enlisted in the army on 19th January 1915, just a few months after war was declared and before compulsory conscription. He clearly wanted to "do his bit".

I have photos of him in Blackpool on 28th January and 20th February......typically sent to Sarah as postcards and so found their way into her album!

This has "Blackpool 28/1/15" helpfully written on the back, as well as a helpful arrow

to aid identification 105 years later!

From Sarah's postcard collection, we can trace Joe to several camps in England - Blackpool,Herne Bay, London, Oswestry and Dover. On 15th September 1916, Joe finally embarked for France. The Battle of the Somme had taken place just 6 weeks before. Joe was heading into the full horror of trench warfare.

Of course, there was a postcard to be sent before he left! This is not only a lovely and thoughtful card, but the words are absolutely beautiful

Joe was to remain on the Western Front until returning home, seriously injured

on 20th September 1917

I have nearly 50 cards that Joe sent from camps in England, Belgium and France in a period of two years, including birthday, new year, Christmas and anniversary cards. I will put some photos of these cards up separately. 

 

Of course, on landing in France, another postcard was sent, equally beautiful.

Joe also sent sketches from the Front - very simple ones but as he states on one of them

 

 

They look pretty good to me! I think the medium he is using is a blue crayon - maybe he had one that was usually used by the censors!

 

 

On the 20th September 1917, Joe had been on the Western Front for a year. He was about to become part of the Battle of Menin Road Ridge.  More details of the battle can be found online including here:

https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/battle-passchendaele

 

I do not know the details of the action he took part in on the 20th September but I do know he was a Lewis Gunner, which was apparently a very dangerous role. A Lewis Gun team was made-up of 6 to 8 men. The first two were trained at the machine gun school (formed in 1914 in France), the remaining members of the team trained within their Battalion (probably by the Number One and Two) and carried the ammunition and were armed with SMLE rifles, their role was to support the two gunners and take-over if necessary. I do not know which role Joe took, but he must have behaved exceptionally bravely in the battle, as he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry. 

 

 

 

My next blog will explore his return to England and convalescence. He was never to return to the Western Front, but continued to serve his country on the home front, after many months in hospital. This was the last postcard that Joe sent from overseas - posted just 5 days before he was seriously injured, and Sarah received the dreaded telegram...

"I hope this finds you quite well and that you like it

I am quite well and in good spirits

so do not forget to take care of yourself

Very fondest of love

from your loving husband xxxxxxxx