Arthur Smith was a worker in the cycle trade, who became a foreman. Born in 1886, in 1907 Arthur married Mary Ann Comerford, daughter of a wire drawer, who had left home and herself worked in the screw trade. The family lived at 9 Back 11 Bolton Road, with four children being born by 1913.
The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, 10-13 March 1915, involved 40 000 Allied and German troops in trench warfare. British casualties were about 7000. Notably, there were 4200 Indian casualties, in the first major engagement involving the Indian Corps. Later German figures showed 10 000 German casualties.
Arthur Smith was among those killed. His body was never found. Private Arthur Smith is commemorated on the Menin Gate memorial.
Neuve Chapelle is now the site of the Indian Corps memorial.