Harry Churchill Smith

Story:
Harry Churchill Smith was born in Colehill, Dorset, on 21 Mar 1894 and baptised at Wimborne Minster, Dorset, on 5 Oct 1894 the son of Thomas Smith and Sarah Lower Smith (nee May).  He lived all his short life in the Wimborne Minster area except for part of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, which he left in 1910.  He had enlisted with the Territorial Force of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 689) but later was integrated into the Corps of Hussars (Service No. 230110).  He served in the Egyptian theatre of war during which time he had suffered from malaria. He was eventually discharged on 22 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal. At the time of the 1921 Census he was living at Barnsley Farm, Pamphill, Wimborne Minster, Dorset, working as a Farmer.   He died on 30 Mar 1925 and was buried at Wimborne Minster Cemetery, Dorset, on 2 Apr 1925. An inquest followed his death where it was indicated that he had died as a result of injuries caused by a shotgun being accidentally discharged on nearby farmland. The jury returned a verdict of 'accidental death'.