Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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8406   Private Joseph Smyth
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Dated added: 01/01/2016   Last updated: 20/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 2nd Battalion, Leinster Regiment (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 04/01/1888
Died: 13/08/1915 (Died of Wounds)
Age: 27
Summary      
Joseph Smith was the youngest son of James and Esther Smyth. He was born on 4th January 1888. The family lived in Beagh, Maghera, County Londonderry. Joseph enlisted and served with Leinster Regiment in India. Private Joseph Smyth was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Leinster Regiment when he died of wounds in Belgium on Friday 13th August 1915. He was 27 years old.
Further Information
Joseph Smith was the youngest son of James and Esther Smyth. James Smyth married Esther Gibson on 13th April 1882 in the district of Coleraine.
Joseph S Smyth was born on 4th January 1888. He was one of three surviving sons.
Family: James Smyth, Esther Smyth, Robert Smyth (born 13th April 1883), William Smyth (born 4th May 1884), Anthony J Smyth (born 1st February 1886), Joseph S Smyth (born 4th January 1888).
The 1901 census lists Joseph as age 12 living with the family at house 9 in Beagh Spiritual, Maghera, Londonderry. He was still at school. His father was a farmer and his mother was a seamstress.
The 1911 census does not list Joseph as living with the family at house 12 in Beagh (Spiritual), Maghera.
Joseph enlisted and served with Leinster Regiment in India.
Medal card
Private Smyth was building up the trench parapet and had just finished when a bullet went through his left side and came out on his right side. He died not an hour later.
Private Joseph Smyth was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Leinster Regiment when he died of wounds in Belgium on the morning of the Friday 13th August 1915. He was 27 years old.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 18th September 1915: Knockloughrim
Lance Corporal Michael Glancy, Machine Gun Section, 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment, in a letter to Mrs Smyth, Curragh, Knockloughrim, states that her son, Joseph, was killed at 3 o’clock on the morning of the 14th August. He was building up the parapet all the night and he had just finished when a bullet went through his left side and came out on his right side. He died not an hour later and over his grave, Lance Corporal Glancy placed a wooden cross. He was highly respected by the men of the whole section. He was the chum of Lance Corporal Glancy, and came over with him from India, and fought by his side until he received the fatal bullet.
Private Joseph Smyth is buried in Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, three kilometres east of Ypres.
Joseph is also commemorated on the family headstone in Maghera Church of Ireland churchyard.
The CWGC record Private Joseph Smyth as the son of James and Hester Smyth of Beagh, Maghera, County Londonderry. It also records that he served with Leinster Regiment in India.
Joseph’s mother, Esther Smyth, died on 18th March 1918.
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Relevant Magherafelt Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Beagh Spiritual, Maghera Maghera Census listing in Beagh Spiritual, Maghera 54.838499 -6.639785
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Smyth family 1901 census lists Joseph as age 12 living with the family at house 9 in Beagh Spiritual, Maghera, Londonderry
2 1911 Census lists Smyth family 1911 census does not list Joseph as living with the family at house 12 in Beagh (Spiritual), Maghera, Londonderry
3 FindAGrave.com Photo of Private Joseph Smyth's grave
4 Maghera Church of Ireland Graveyard Private Joseph Smyth commemorated on family grave
5 National Archives UK Medal card of Private Joseph Smyth can be purchased here
6 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Private Joseph Smyth's grave can be purchased here
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023