Memorial Details

Screen Eustace-Smith 1918 St. Mary Magdalene

W38.04

WHALTON

NZ 131813

St. Mary Magdalene Church. Screen dividing north chapel from north aisle.

1914-18

Completed 30th January 1919

Screen of three double panels and door. The inscription is on the centre horizontal frame dividing the upper and lower panels on the screen. The lettering is in Gothic upper and lower case script.

Oak

To the memory of Ralph Eustace Smith, Northumberland Hussars,
attached Royal Flying Corps, who fell in action during the night of 18th-19th of April 1918.

See above

£86 10s.

Hedley Brothers, St Mary’s Place, Newcastle upon Tyne

1. "The Eustace- Smith family have a fine family record of service with the regiment. Lt. Col. Philip Eustace-Smith had joined the Northumberland Hussars in 1913, gone abroad with them in 1914, and for his part in the war was awarded the Military Cross and the Croix de Guerre. His brother, Lt. Ralph Eustace- Smith who had also gone to France with the Regiment in 1914 was killed in action. Another brother, Capt. Gerard Eustace- Smith was Adjutant from 1924-26 while his younger brother, Lt. Col. Thomas Eustace- Smith is at present commanding the Regiment".
History of the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry 1924-1949

2. Lieut. R.E. Smith

Lieutenant Ralph Eustace Smith, Northumberland Hussars (attached Royal Flying Corps, as it was then named), was the second son of the late Eustace Smith, Esq., of Benton House, Newcastle-on-Tyne, the first chairman of Smith’s Dock Company, Ltd. He was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne on August 28th, 1889, educated at Remenham, Henley-on-Thames, and at Marlborough College, and married, on April 28th, 1914, Florence Muriel, daughter of Edward Joicey, Esq., of Blenkinsopp, Northumberland. He was a director of T. & W. Smith, Ltd., and of Smith’s Dock Company, Ltd. On the outbreak of war he received a commission in a battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, was later transferred to the Northumberland Hussars, with whom he served in France. In the autumn of 1917 he became attached to the Royal Flying Corps and was killed whilst flying on the Flanders front on the night of April 18th-19th, 1918. A Memorial Service was held at Whalton Church, Northumberland, on the anniversary of his death, when an organ screen, erected to his memory by his mother, was unveiled. Amongst the large congregation present on that occasion were most of the directors and principal officials of Smith’s Dock Company, Ltd.
Smith’s Dock News, Vol.1, no.1. June 1919, pages 11-12

He is remembered on W38.01; W38.03; and W38.07; NUT239; G27.02; H104.01; H35.01; N34.04

Photos: J. Brown

Faculty Diocese of Newcastle No.576, 14/08/1918.

History of the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry 1924-1949 Joan Bright, O.B.E.; Newcastle; Mawson Swan and Morgan, Ltd, 1949.

Smith’s Dock Monthly No.1, Vol.1, June 1919 pages 11-12 carries a notice of Lt. Smith’s death plus photograph.

Janet Brown; Ken and Dorothy Southern; Sally Bird; Tony Harding

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk

 

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