Grandparents and parents

For the family history see Gordon Smith, Rudolf ’s brother.

Rudolf

Rudolf was born in Didsbury in 1894. In 1911 he was an errand boy (confectionery). He enlisted on 6 March 1915, aged 20. His occupation at the time was baker. He enlisted in the 19th Service Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, service number 12715. He joined the Expeditionary Force in France, sailing from Southampton on the SS Queen Alexandra on 7 November 1915. In November 1916 he was hospitalised in the Northern General Hospital, Lincoln, with trench foot. He subsequently served with the 3rd and 12th Battalions of the Manchester Regiment, joining the latter on 18 April 1917.

He was killed in action on 10 August 1917, aged 22. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France, reference Bay 7, Course A, Stone 19.