Henry Fyge Smith was born in Hatton on 15th February 1889 and baptised at Daresbury on 15th September that year. He was the son of Thomas Smith (born Kingsley) and his wife Ann (nee Wilkinson) who was born in Hatton.
In 1891 he was living on Stretton Road in Hatton with his parents and Charles F. (7), Sarah E. (4) and Edith M. (2 months). His father was slater.
The Census of 1901 showed that they were at Hatton Common and his father was still working as a slater. Henry was now a slater’s apprentice. Sarah was no longer at home, but the family now included Thomas (7) and Elsie (3). Henry was incorrectly recorded as Fred Smith.
Sadly his mother died in 1901, aged 40 years of age.
Ten years later Henry was qualified as a slater and was living at home with his family. Charles had now left home. Thomas Rigby Smith (17) would also serve in the Great War.
Henry appeared on the Daresbury Roll of Honour in 1915, but as Fred Smith.
He enlisted in the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own) as a private in the 10th and then 11th Battalions. His service number was 5544. He was recorded as sick and injured according to the Warrington Guardian dated 20th April 1918. By this time he had moved from Hatton to Bryn Felin on Chester Road in Latchford Without where he was an absent voter and now a lance corporal. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service in the Great War.
On 19th July 1919 Henry married Harriett Annie Dutton from Hatton, sister of Harry Cecil Dutton, who also served in The Great War. They were now residents at Bryn Villas in Latchford. By 1924 they had moved to Dorothy Cottages in Stretton. During the 1920s their children Edith A., Ronald, Nellie and Robert were born and two more by the time of the 1939 Register, when they were living at 3, Primrose Hill Cottages, London Road, in Stretton. Henry was a bricklayer property representative.
Henry Fyge Smith died in June 1971 in Runcorn R.D., five years after his wife. He was 82 years of age.