Charles Edward Smith, Able Seaman J14923 Royal Navy

[Jill]

4th of the Old Boys of my school to die in WW1.

Charles was born in Haywards Heath, Sussex on 4 Sept 1895 son of George Alfred and Annie Smith who had 5 other children, including another son, Albert, who was also to lose his life in the conflict. Charles's father was a bricklayer’s labourer and they lived at 23 Queens Road. In 1911 Charles was a “chicken lad” on a poultry farm.

Charles joined the Navy and was serving on HMS Bulwark when he died on 26 Nov 1914, the battleship was moored off Sheerness when ammunition caused a massive explosion, killing most of the 750 crew. He was 19, and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial at Southsea.