Bert Smith, the son of a Malvern publican was an old boy of Malvern Wells National School and Hanley Castle Grammar School. He was well known in Malvern and Pershore having been a clerk for sometime in the Recruiting Office there. Before joining up he was a clerk for the Great Western Railway Company, and before that a clerk in the Malvern UDC Gas Department on which body his father represented Wells Ward for some time.

He was awarded the Military Medal, which was gazetted in November 1917: His section commander having been killed he took charge of his section (on the left of his Coy). When the centre of the Company was held up he continued to advance with his men until on reaching a point about 200 yards in front he was the only survivor of his section.

He continued to fire upon the enemy until his platoon sergeant and two men joined him. As soon as it was dusk he went under fire to get in touch with the Company on his left. He returned afterwards and held the post for 30 hours until told to withdraw.

He died of wounds received in the bitter fighting at Landrecies on the 4th November in January 1920. He succumbed at Worcester Royal Infirmary on the 2nd, and his funeral took place at Welland Church on the 6th. His coffin was borne by four ex-servicemen; Messrs E Marsh, W Wood, C Spilsbury and J Butcher.

The Hawthorns Inn, Upper Welland

Malvern News 1/12/17, 10/1/20