Alan Douglas Hay-Smith

2^nd Lieutenant, Essex Regiment

Alan Douglas Hay-Smith lived at Kendal Cottage, Upper Tulse Hill and was a student at Alleyn’s until 1902. Information on the back of one his photographs shows that he originally joined the London Rifle Brigade in February 1908 and so was already serving in the British Army when the First World War broke out in August 1914. He immediately received orders to go oversees and was sent for service on the Western Front in November 1914. He was involved in a number of early British operations where he demonstrated his skill as a soldier and his natural ability to lead in battle. It was these qualities which later saw him granted a commission in the Essex Regiment in September 1915. After receiving the necessary officer training, he was granted the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant and was sent for service on the Eastern Front with the Essex Regiment in November 1916. In 1917, he took part in the British Jerusalem Operations against the Ottoman Empire which eventually ended in fighting for the city towards the end of the year. It was during the start of this campaign in the First Battle of Gaza that Alan was killed in action on March 26^th 1917 aged 30, just outside of Gaza. He is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial.