The Smith Brothers
Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
John McDowell Smith married Margaret Stout at Teesdale in the summer of 1882. The couple went on to have 12 children although sadly 1 died. Of the 11 siblings remaining there were six sons and five daughters as follows:-
John William Stout 1880 -1917; Sarah Jane 1884 -1946; Alfred 1888 – 1918; George Henry 1890 -1916; Margaret 1892 – 1954; Robert 1894 – 1916; Frederick 1897 – 1917; Wilfred 1898 – 1968; Elizabeth 1901 -1997; Kathleen 1903 – 1977; Lillian 1906 - ??
Frederick was born at Barnard Castle in 1896
His first census was in 1901 when the family were living at Oliver’s Yard, Bridgegate, Barnard Castle. His father was a chimney sweep whilst brother Alfred and sister Sarah both worked as machine minders at the flax mill.
By 1911 the family of now 10 were living in 3 rooms. The older children now were working mainly as mill hands at Ullathorpe’s flax mill. George was a yarn washer, Margaret a swifter, Robert a labourer whilst 12-year-old Frederick, the youngest son, was a flax dresser.
Fred enlisted into the Army joining the Durham Light Infantry October 25th 1915. He was a Mason's labourer His height was 5' 5 ˝ inches and he weighed 122 pounds. After training Fred embarked for France 11th March 1916.
Fred had returned home in the previous February having been wounded. He then returned to his battalion after a short break.
Fred who was fighting with his battalion, the 20th D.L.I., died in a night attack which resulted in considerable casualties. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. Military records show that Fred was presumed dead on or since 31/07/1917.
Fred was the third of five sons of Margaret Smith to be killed.
His father John McDowell Smith died in 1923 and his mother Margaret on October 13th 1923 was asked to lay a wreath at the dedication of the Barnard Castle War Memorial in the grounds of Bowes Museum. Margaret died in 1924.
On November 11th 2018 members of the Smith family gathered to remember their relatives- the six Smith Brothers of Barnard Castle.
The photograph includes clockwise from left to right Alfred, George Henry, Frederick and John. The inset is of Wilfred in later life. No photograph has been found of Robert.
Frederick Smith is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.23 and B135.25
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page
