| Notes: | MFP. Awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and War Medals. First served abroad (1) France, 1/11/1914 to 15/2/15. Died. He was born in Dublin, enlisted in Belfast and resided in Bradford. Killed in Action. Shown as leaving £7.5.5 in unclaimed deceased soldiers estates, LG 32105, page 10456, dated 29/10/1920. No inscription on gravestone. Buried with French Army War dead, the only British casualty buried here. His No. in soldiers died is shown as P/365 and P/367 on medal card and CWGC roll. He is shown on medal roll page 35 has killed in shunting accident 15/2/15.
Info from Army Register of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929. 3/3/1916 he left £3-04-11 and 6/4/1916 2/5d.
Patrick Smyth.
Extract from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 10 March 1915.
Died, Smyth, P, (367), L/Cpl, P, Military Foot Police.
Extract from the Belfast News-Letter, 23/3/1915. POLICE BANDSMAN'S DEATH.
Colonel F Dorling, Provost Marshal, Aldershot, has sent the following statement to the City Commissioner (Mr T J Smith, JP) in connection with the death of Lance corporal Patrick Smyth, of the Military Foot Police in France, who was formerly a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary Belfast Band:- "No. 367, Patrick Smyth, Lance Corporal of the Military Foot Police was one of a small detachment working under me at the railway station
of Laigle (Orne), when he met with a fatal accident at about 2.30 pm on 15th February, 1915. He had gone across the railway siding to get boiling water for tea, and on his way back, instead of going round some trucks that were being shunted, he passed between tow which were about a yard apart, apparently without noticing the engine at the end of the trucks. As he passed through the trucks came together suddenly, and pinned him between the buffers. His death was practically instantaneous, for within ten minutes the French doctor, summoned by telephone, had pronounced life to be extinct. He was taken to the Hospice Civil, and lay in the mortuary there until the burial, which took place at 3 pm. Being a Roman Catholic, he received the full rites of burial of that faith. A detachment of French soldiers posted at the station, a large number of the employees there, three of his English comrades, as well as my self, the officers of the Commission Militaire de Gare de L aigle, the Mayor, and some two hundred of the inhabitants of the small town, paid there last token of respects to a soldier who died in his country's service by following the remains to their last resting place, and many were the wreaths and floral tributes which were placed on the grave. The coffin was covered with the French Tricolour and union Jack, with his greatcoat spread above. At the graveside the Mayor and the senior french officer present both addressed the mourners, lamenting the sad accident, and in a few words paid their respect and gratitude to a man who had given his life for the cause of freedom, patriotism, and equity. The cemetery is situated close to the little township, and the grave is amongst many others of men who have laid down their lives in their country's service. It can easily be identified and will be marked with a wooden cross pending other arrangements. (Signed) Arthur B Cowburn. Captain. |
FRANCE
