Prescot Roll of Honour

Martin SMITH

6, High Street, Prescot

Pte 21614, 11th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment

Martin attested for service on 22nd May 1915 in Prescot. He was aged 26, single and worked as a Collier. He recorded his next of kin as his father, Michael Smith, of Straid, Co. Mayo, Ireland. It's hard to be certain of his exact age because in the 1911 census, he was shown as being aged 18. At that time, he was a Farm Labourer at Brook Farm, Knowsley.

He was promoted to the paid role of Lance Corporal on 6th July 1915 but at his own request he reverted to Private on 19th September. He went to France on 6th November 1915.

Martin's records show that he was admitted to hospital on 26th February 1916 (reason unknown). In early March he was transferred to a Casualty Clearing Station, where it was noted that he had defective vision. April, he was at No 5 general Hospital at Rouen and after a short stay here, on 3rd May 1916 he was transferred to the 10th Battalion of the regiment, and he sailed back to England on board the Hospital Shop 'St David'.

On 29th July 1916, he was found to be no longer fir for service and was discharged from the army. His discharge papers reported that his intention was to return to the family home in Ireland. He was suffering from Chronic Conjunctivitis, reported to have originated whilst on service in France, where he was gassed, 'While in trenches lachrymatory burst in his vicinity and the eye became acutely inflamed. He states that seven years ago he had some irritation in the eye but no trouble since. '

His vision was classed as poor and glasses would 'be useless' and so he was classed as 'Permanently' injured, with Total Incapacity for an initial twelve months with a review on 29th January 1917. His incapacity was confirmed and it was recommended that he be treated as an outpatient at Castlebar Hospital, Co. Mayo, to which he agreed. No further details of his treatment are available.

Martin was entitled to the 1915 Star, British War medal and Victory Medal, in addition to the Silver War Badge.