Fallen Sheffield soldier whose medal was found in city river lived in Attercliffe and left a widow

A military history author has helped shed more light on the life of a Sheffield soldier whose First World War medal was found in a city river by police divers.
The medal police divers found in the River Loxley.The medal police divers found in the River Loxley.
The medal police divers found in the River Loxley.

Andrew Rawson, who has written more than 40 books, said Pte Stephen Smith, lived at 6 Glave Street, off Coleridge Road, Attercliffe and died at the age of 23.

Mr Rawson said Pte Smith was killed in action at Suvla Bay on August 9, 1915, while serving with the 6th York and Lancaster Regiment, leaving behind a widow '“ Mrs S E Smith.

The medal police divers found in the River Loxley.The medal police divers found in the River Loxley.
The medal police divers found in the River Loxley.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Pte Smith's medal was found by crews from the Yorkshire and the Humber Marine Unit while carrying out a search of the River Loxley in Hillsborough on behalf of South Yorkshire Police.

Read More
Police divers hope to track down family of fallen Sheffield soldier after findin...

Sgt Paul Jackson, of the regional underwater team, said divers had found out Pte Smith served as part of the 6th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment and landed in Gallipoli, in Turkey on July 2, 1915.

The officer said the the team were desperate to reunite the medal with his family.

The medal police divers found in the River Loxley.The medal police divers found in the River Loxley.
The medal police divers found in the River Loxley.

Sgt Jackson said: 'We were on an operational job on behalf of South Yorkshire Police at the time and we were waiding through the water near Hillsborough stadium and doing a search.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'We were going slowly working our way down the river and one of the lads stopped because he thought he'd found a coin but then we realised it was a war medal.'

Mr Rawson said the 6th York and Lancaster Regiment were part of the 11th Division which formed on August, 21 1914.

Soldiers in Gallipoli.Soldiers in Gallipoli.
Soldiers in Gallipoli.

He said: 'After initial training at the regimental depots, the infantry battalions moved to Grantham in Lincolnshire.

'On June 12, 1915, the division received orders to prepare for service at Gallipoli and it embarked on the Aquitania and Empress of Britain at Liverpool on June 30.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'The division had sailed to Mudros by July 10. On August 6 and 7, 1915 the division landed near Lala Baba at Suvla Bay, in the hope of breaking the deadlock on the peninsular.'

Pte Smith's medal.Pte Smith's medal.
Pte Smith's medal.

The Star is calling for anyone with any information about Pte Smith or who knows his family to get in touch.

Anyone with any information should call The Star on 0114 2767676 or email [email protected] and we will pass on your details to the diving team.

Â