Captain Vivian Norman Smith was born 27 October 1881 at West End, Southampton, Hampshire. Our picture source gives a comprehensive biography of this man.
He was the third of the four children of Norman Dickinson Smith (1856-1926) and Flora Mary Smith (1856-1949) and was baptised on 21 November 1881 at West End, Southampton. His sisters were Miriam Irene Smith (b.1879), Evelyn Violet Smith (1880-1961) and Josephine Flora Smith (b.1883).
He was educated at both the Connaught House Preparatory School and Sherborne School, Abbey Road, Sherborne, Dorset. A Royal Academy Schools student from 26 July 1904 to 30 July 1907, he then he took up an appointment as a master at Gresham's School, Cromer Road, Holt, Norfolk. The 1911 census shows him as an art master at the Fishmonger's Company's Gresham's School and he was boarding at Hanworth House, Tower Street, Holt.
On the outbreak of World War One he enlisted with the 12th (Public School) Battalion of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) and the London Gazette shows that he was appointed as a temporary Second Lieutenant on 22 September 1914, serving in the 6th Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regiment). He entered France in 1915 and was was promoted to Captain. He was killed in action, aged 35 years, on 13 November 1916 and was buried in Row M, Grave 46 of the Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension, Rue du Cimetière, Aveluy, France.
Probate records show his address to have been 'Beechcroft', Kilmington, Axminster, Devon and when probate was granted to his father on 3 May 1917 his effects totalled £374-18s-11d. His army effects totalling £154-0s-8d were sent to his father on 24 May 1917. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal and these were sent to his father on 16 March 1922 at 'Littlehome', Seaton, Devon. He is also commemorated on the Sherborne School War Memorial at Sherborne School Antechapel, Abbey Road, Sherborne, DT9 3AP and the Holt War Memorial at Market Place, Holt, Norfolk.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
