In Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece is the Commonwealth War Grave of 46155 Corporal Joseph Armstrong Smiles, serving with the 50th General Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps who died 03/10/1918.

He was the son of the late William and Elizabeth Smiles, of Dudley, Northumberland.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following :-

Joseph Armstrong Smiles was one  of 9 children. His parents, William Smiles and Elizabeth Stephenson were both natives of Cramlington, born in 1844. They were married in 1864 in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland, but lived briefly in Gateshead, historically in County Durham, where their daughter Mary Jane was born in 1865. 

By 1871 the family had moved to the village of Dudley, Northumberland. Mary Jane (6) was living at 1, Office Buildings with her maternal grandparents William and Jane (nee Gray) Stephenson, the remainder of her family at Striker’s Row. Elizabeth had given birth to James and William Jnr in 1866 and 1889 respectively. William Snr supported his family employed as a coal miner at Dudley Colliery. 

Their family grew over the next 10 years, Andrew was born in 1871 after the completion of the census, Isabella, November 29th 1873, Joseph Armstrong, August 16th 1876, Elizabeth, July 5th 1879. They had moved to 184, Sinker’s Row by 1881, James (14) and William (12) had joined their father at the colliery as coal miners, with the exception of Elizabeth (1) their siblings were scholars. Mary Jane Smiles (16) was still living with her grandparents, however, she was no longer listed as their granddaughter but as a domestic servant.

William’s mother, Jane Smiles nee Gray died, October 7th 1883, soon after the birth of William and Elizabeth’s youngest daughter Ethel, August 3rd. Tragically befell the family when youngest son Fred, born in 1888 died aged 5 month, January 6th 1889. He was interred in the family plot within St. Nicholas’ Churchyard, Cramlington, as was his brother Andrew after his death, aged 20 years, June 24th 1891 and their father William Smiles who died March 23rd 1895, 51 years of age. 

At the time of William Smiles’ death his children were still living at home, they also had a boarder, blacksmith, Thomas Gray, probably a relative. His widow Elizabeth had moved to Algerton Terrace by 1901. Joseph (24) and Ethel (18) were the only breadwinners still living at home. Joseph had been working for several years at the colliery, Ethel (18) was employed at the local post office where her brother William was the sub postmaster, to increment the family income they had taken in two boarders, coal miners Mark Jobson (48) and Albert Hutchins (22), the latter married Ethel in 1903. After 7 years of marriage, Ethel and Albert had only one child, 11 month old James Hutchins and were living in with the family in 4 rooms at 8, East View, Dudley. Elizabeth and Ethel with the help of domestic servant Winifred Simpson (16), attended to household duties, Joseph and Albert  were working as a hewer and shot firer, their boarder, postman Robert Stephenson (27), was a government employee.

Elizabeth Smiles nee Stephenson died February 18th 1914 and was interred with her husband and children in the family plot. Less than six months later Britain was at war with Germany when hostilities commenced, August 4th 1914.

Upon the commencement of war, the lessons learnt during the Boer War ensured that the medical services were an essential part of the British Army. Joseph Armstrong Smiles who was living at 8, Garden Row, Dudley, enlisted at Cramlington in 1914, assigned as Private 46155 to the Royal Army Medical Corps. 

Tune 13th 1915 he departed to Egypt most probably to give medical assistance to the garrison protecting the Suez Canal and the returning wounded from the campaign on the Gallipoli Peninsular, all of whom passed through Alexandria en-route to the United Kingdom. The British Mediterranean Force was withdrawn from Gallipoli over 5 nights, beginning December 15th 1915, to Lemnos and then Egypt before setting sail from Alexandria to France.

Private Smiles rose to the rank of Corporal and was transferred from Egypt to Salonika (Greece), he was a member of staff at the 50th General Hospital at Kalamaria. Kalamaria was one of several hutted hospital and convalescent depots, circa 8 kilometres from the centre of Salonika which the British had named, “Piccadilly Circus.” 

It is fair to say life on the Salonika front was hell on earth. Not only did the troops have to face enemy forces but a multitude of diseases. Dysentery and sand fly fever were commonplace, malaria was an even greater problem and during 1918 numerous cases of black water fever were reported, also an outbreak of influenza. The number of deaths amongst the British troops from disease was 20 times higher than that from wounding.

None of the documents available stipulate an actual cause of death for Corporal 46155 Joseph Armstrong Smiles, only that he died at the 50th General Hospital, Kalamaria, Salonika. His Medal Index Card states October 21st 1918, all other documents, October 3rd 1918, The CWGC have reported the latter. Awards 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Corporal Smiles was 43 years of age and could well have requested that he be discharged at 41 years of age, time completed. As he was single Joseph Armstrong Smiles had a made a Will nominating warehouseman James Henry Harman and James Curry, signalman, his executors. They received all monies due to him from the Army and January 6th 1919 they were assigned his personal effects in the sum of £127 17 shillings 7 pence.

The death of James Smiles (51), September 22nd 1917, had preceded that of his brother, leaving only William Smiles and his descendants to continue the family name.

In God’s see keeping. Rest In Peace.

The Morpeth Herald 01/11/1918 reports:-
Official news has been received that Acting- Corporal Joseph A. Smiles, R.A.M.C., of No. 8, Garden Row. Dudley, has died at the 50th General Hospital, Salonica. from broncho-pneumonia. Prior to joining the forces in November, 1914, deceased was employed deputy-overman Dudley Colliery

The Morpeth Herald 27/02/1920 reports:-
LATE CORPORAL J. A. SMILES,
DUDLEY
There has just been erected in Cramlington churchyard a freestone scroll to the memory of the late Corpl. J. A. Smiles, of Dudley, who joined the Colours in the early stages of the war, and after serving in different parts of the world, died from pneumonia in Salonika Oct. 3rd, 1918 and is interred at Mikra Cemetery. The officers, non-commissioned officers and men of No 50 General Hospital to which he was attached, desirous of keeping his memory green, have not only sent to his relatives an enlarged photo of his grave, but a cheque sufficient to defray the cost of the memorial which has just been erected by Mr. W. H. Endean and Son, of Cramlington.

On the scroll is the following inscription:- In affectionate memory of Corpl. J. A. Smiles (Royal Army Medical Corps), son of William and Elizabeth Smiles of Dudley who laid down his life for his country October 3rd 1918, aged 42. Interred at Mikra Cemetery, Salonika. Memorial erected by the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of No. 50 General Hospital”

Before joining the Colours, Corporal Smiles was a deputy – overman at Dudley Colliery and was greatly interested in ambulance work.

Joseph Armstrong Smiles is remembered at Cramlington on C60.07,  at Dudley on D34.01 and D34.05, at Gateshead on G39.30 and at Preston on P17.02 page 33.