Chailey Parish Magazine notes in October 1915 that Private C Smith is serving with the Royal Sussex Regiment in England.  In December 1915 it notes that he is serving with the 3rd Battalion but by June 1916 he is noted as being with the 7th battalion in France.  In April 1917, the parish magazine notes that he has been wounded and by January 1918 he is reported as being with the 13th Bedfordshire Regiment.  This information is then repeated monthly up to and including the final published roll in July 1919.

 

The 13th Bedfordshire Regiment (along with the 12th battalion) was a Transport Workers’ battalion.  It was formed in March 1917 at Croydon and remained there, sending working parties to ports as required.

 

I am reasonably assured that the C Smith referred to is Charles Smith.  There is a medal index card for 3/6869 Private Charles Smith, Royal Sussex Regiment, later 38946 Bedfordshire Regiment.  The Royal Sussex Regiment number dates to about May 1915 and the Bedfordshire Regiment number appears to fall within a block of numbers issued to men who transferred to the 13th Bedfordshire Regiment in February 1917 (38925 transferred to the 13th Beds on 24th February 1917). 

 

Unfortunately, I know nothing more about this man.

 

 

Sources and Acknowledgements

 

• Chailey Parish Magazine
• British Regiments, 1914-18 by Brigadier E A James OBE, TD (Samson Books, 1978)