Thomas Charles Smith

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Thomas Charles Smith (Charlton) was the only son of Thomas Charles Smith and Dinah Grieves, he had an elder sister Hannah. Thomas Charles Smith Snr was born at Dudley Colliery, Northumberland, in 1857 and married Dinah, born at Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, May 4th 1864, at Long Benton, March 21st 1883. Hannah was born at Blyth, October 7th 1886 and died in infancy prior to her first birthday in 1887. Tragedy struck again whilst Dinah was pregnant for a second time, her husband Thomas died during the 3rd quarter 1888 in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland, aged 31 years, Thomas Charles Smith Jnr was born within 3 months of his father’s demise (1888). Dinah and Thomas Jnr in 1891 were living with her parents William and Mary Ann Grieves and siblings at 4, Double Row, Long Benton. William Grieves supported his family with the help his two elder sons John (24) and William (21), all three employed as coal miners.

Dinah Smith married for a second time in 1892, district of Tynemouth, to George Charlton. Not only did her son Thomas Charles Smith adopt his step-father’s surname but she went on to have a further 6 children, all sons. William Grieves Charlton was born at Medomsley, County Durham, in 1893, George 1895 at Dudley, Northumberland as was John George, December 15th 1897 and Dixon, January 22nd 1901, where George and step-son Thomas (13) were employed at the colliery as a coal miner and trapper respectively. By the time Reuben and Norman were born, December 6th 1903 and March 13th 1906 they had moved to Killingworth, Northumberland and by 1911 they occupied 3 rooms at 100, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope. George Charlton and Thomas (23) worked as hewers, William and George Charlton as putters and John Charlton (13) as a pony driver, Dixon, Reuben and Norman, 11, 8 and 5 although of school age are not listed as such in the census.

Thomas was married in the district of Castle Ward, Northumberland in 1913 to Margaret Jane Pope Aitkin born, March 13th 1891. Their son Thomas Charles Smith-Charlton Jnr, born during the 1st quarter 1914, tragically died within 3 months.

When war was declared in August 1914, Margaret was again pregnant, son George Charlton was born November 23rd 1914.

Thomas Charles Smith enlisted at South Shields under the surname Charlton and was trained as a Gunner, service number 27396, assigned to the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery. He departed for the Western Front, May 19th 1915, and upon his arrival was posted to ‘B’ Battery, 46th Brigade Royal Field Artillery.

The 46th Brigade served as Divisional Artillery with the 14th Light Division, one of Kitchener’s First New Army. Having arrived in France, Gunner Charlton proceeded with the division to Belgium where it was engaged at Bellewaarde, a phase of the Second Battle of Ypres, April 22nd-May 25th 1915. The brigade remained in Belgium until the beginning of 1916 when it returned to France.

Gunner 27396 Thomas Charles Smith-Charlton R. H. A. & R. F. A. was killed in action, December 12th 1915 on the Ypres salient and is now interred at Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium, 1.6 kilometres north of the town of Ypres, grave V. B. 14. Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery was begun in July 1917, his remains were therefore either brought in from the battlefield from an isolated grave or from a small concentration. Gunner Smith-Charlton was 26 years of age.

Margaret was notified of his death, December 30th 1915 and as his widow received all monies due to him from the Army, a pension as of 15 shillings a week was awarded June 29th 1916, to be received as of July 3rd 1916, for herself and their son and in his case would expire once he turned 16. Her husband’s awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal were sent to her at Benson’s Buildings, Westerhope, Northumberland.

Margaret remarried at Castle Ward in 1919 to Peter Banks born June 5th 1893, at Slatyford, Northumberland, with whom she had 2 known children, Archibald born September 5th 1923 and John, April 26th 1926. In 1939 they were living at 5, Denton Grove, Newburn, Northumberland, Peter worked below ground at the colliery as a coal cutter, as did Archibald, haulage and ropes. The whereabouts of George Charlton at that time is unknown

Margaret Jane Pope Banks-Smith Charlton-Aitken died in 1958, aged 67 years, registered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.

Thomas’ half-brother William Grieves Charlton served as Private 4827 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers died of wounds February 19th 1916 in France. He was 23 years of age and single.

Dinah Smith-Charlton nee Grieves died aged 74 years in 1938, Northumberland South, her death was preceded by her son’s step-father George Charlton in 1932 at Castle Ward, aged 63 years, he was interred at Ashington, Northumberland.

It should be noted the CWGC have listed Gunner Charlton’s mother as Diana. Her birth was registered as Dinah.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Thomas Charles Smith Charlton is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01

The CWGC entry for Gunner Smith
The CWGC entry for Gunner Charlton