Charles Edward Ridley Holroyd-Smyth (1882-1918)
County Waterford man commanded 15th DLI awarded the DSO
Charles Edward Ridley Holroyd-Smyth, the son of Colonel John Henry and Lady Harriette Gertrude Isabella Holroyd-Smyth, (daughter of the 5th Earl of Cashell) was born in Ballynatray, County Waterford, Ireland on 16 August 1882. He had two brothers and seven sisters and little can be discovered about his early years. He served in the 3rd Battalion (Prince of Wales’s) Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) with his father, who was Colonel of the Battalion, in the Boer War. In 1902 he joined the Reserve of Officers of the 3rd Dragoon Guards as a lieutenant.
At the outbreak of the First World War Charles re-joined the 3rd Dragoon Guards and on 31 August 1914 was promoted to captain. He landed in France on 1 November 1914. During the following four years he was mentioned in despatches four times and won the Military Cross (MC), which was gazetted in March 1916. At the end of 1916 he married Nora Margaret Layard, grand-daughter of the famous archaeologist, Sir Austen Layard, in Bath and in March 1918 was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel and given command of the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) in June. In the following months, he was wounded on two occasions and on 18 September was severely wounded in an action while leading his battalion in an attack on Villers Guislain. He died of his wounds a week later in the British Red Cross Hospital in South Stoneham, near Southampton and was buried in the Lansdown Cemetery in Bath.
His award of the MC was gazetted on 15 March 1916 and the citation reads:
“For conspicuous gallantry. He assisted with great skill and courage in organising the defence after the explosion of a mine, thus preventing the enemy entering the saps. On the following evening, though subjected to heavy machine-gun fire, he crawled into the crater with another officer, destroying loopholes and machine-gun emplacements, and brought back several articles of equipment needed for identification. On many other occasions he has shown great coolness and courage”.
His award of the DSO was gazetted on 11 January 1919 and the citation reads:
“For conspicuous gallantry and fine leadership while commanding the battalion in an attack. When the situation was doubtful he went forward to the advanced posts under heavy fire to ascertain the position. Previously he had taken charge of the brigade, and, although surrounded, the brigade overcame the enemy resistance, and was largely instrumental in the capture of a village, together with a number of prisoners and a quantity of stores”.
Birth date: 16-Aug-1882
Death date: 23-Sep-1918
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Ballynatray, County Waterford, Ireland
7 Springfield Place, Bath, Somerset (England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1919)
Family: Father: Col. John Henry Holroyd-Smyth C.M.G.
Mother: Lady Harriette Gertrude Isabella Horoyd-Smyth (nee More-Smyth)
Siblings: Isabella Charlotte Sophie Wilmott, Rowland Henry Tyssen, Harriett Gwendoline, Ada Lilian Louisa, Helena Anna Mary More, Gwendoline Harriette, Sophia Beryl Sheila, William Baker and Victoria Penelope Minna Holroyd-Smyth
Wife: Nora Margaret Holroyd-Smyth (nee Layard)
Military service:
3rd Leinster Regiment
7th Dragoon Guards - Reserve of Officers
Lieutenant
Prince of Wales's Own 3rd Dragoon Guards
Captain
15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Lieutenant Colonel
Medal(s): Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (4)
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Collegiate Church of St Mary, Youghal, County Cork, Ireland
Lansdown Cemetery, Bath, Somerset
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards
