Photo: Dorothy Hall
77 Private
R. Smith
Army Cyclist Corps
14th October 1916 Age 19
Son of William and Mary Ann Smith, of 6, Hendon Valley Road, Sunderland.
The Sunderland Echo 16/10/1916 reports:-
Caught by a Train
Two Local Soldiers Killed.
During a violent gale on the north-east coast on Saturday night two local soldiers were killed. The names of the victims are; John Summers, aged 21, whose home of 63, Longnewton Street Street, Dawdon, Seaham Harbour, and Reginald Smith, aged 20 of 6, Hendon Valley Road Sunderland.
They belonged the Northumberland Cyclist Corps and on Saturday night were walking on the Saltburn and Whitby branch line, in the vicinity of Huntcliff between Brotton and Skinningrove for the purpose of reaching Skinningrove, where they were expected for duty. They were caught by a passenger train from Saltburn to Whitby. Owing to the gale it is thought they did not hear the train, which just at that point glides swiftly round a sharp curve on a down gradient The men were caught from the rear, and could not perceive the lights of the engine. The bodies were conveyed to the Brotton Hospital to await inquest.
Reginald Smith is remembered at Sunderland on S140.48 part 7 page 149
