Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Smiles born at Broompark, County Durham in 1888 was the youngest of 2 sons. Both he and his brother and/or half-brother William, who was born April 19th 1885 at Pittington, County Durham, were the illegitimate children of servant Maria/Mariah Smiles of Stanley Moor. Their grandparents William and Ann Smiles brought up both boys as well as their own children. In 1891 they were living at 16, Auton Stile, Bearpark, William (59) was working as a general labourer, youngest daughter Dorothy (25) as a farm domestic servant, grandson William attended school, Robert did not as he was only 3 years of age. At the age of 69 William was still employed to support the boys, now as a labourer at the coke yard, William (15) had left school and was working on a farm with horses as a carter, Robert (12) though not employed is neither listed as a scholar. William Smiles (grandson) was married in 1907 at Durham to Elsie Victoria Fenn born at St. Hilda’s West Hartlepool in 1889 and with whom he had a son William Jnr born 1908. William took into his home at Auton Stile his grandparents, supporting them and his family employed as a labourer at the patent ovens. Robert was living at Annfield Plain employed at the South Pontop colliery as a fireman.
Robert Smiles was married in 1913 in the district of Lanchester to Edith Bentick born 1894 at Happyland, County Durham who in 1911 was living with her parents and elder brother and sister at 1 & 2 Happyland, Leadgate, Durham, parish of Greencroft. She gave birth to their only child Elsie during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1914 in the district of Lanchester.
On the outbreak of war Robert Smiles enlisted at Annfield Plain, assigned firstly as Private 2974 Durham Light Infantry and later reassigned as Private 300535. He was posted to the 1/8th Battalion which was moved to the coastal defences at Roker and Whitburn, they were also trained over the next nine months in four groups at Boldon, Ravensworth and Newcastle-upon-Tyne for service overseas.
He departed with his regiment from Newcastle-upon-Tyne railway station, April 19th 1915, landing in France the following day. Marched across France to the Ypres salient in Belgium they entered the front line trenches during the Second Battle of Ypres a few days later where they were subjected to heavy artillery fire and gas attacks on the Gravenstafel Ridge and the defence of Boetleer’s Farm.
They served on the Ypres salient until August 1916 in and out of the trenches at Armentieres and Kemmel as part of the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. Moved south to the Somme in September 1916 they participated during the final phases suffering heavy casualties in fighting near Le Sars and at the Butte de Warlencourt on November 5th 1916, this final attack failed, hampered by mud and rain the 151st Brigade lost almost 150 men killed or wounded.
During 1917 they were moved to the Arras sector where the battle commenced April 9th and raged until May 16th then participating in a major raid at Cherisy in September 1917 before returning to Belgium where they fought in October and November during the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele. They spent another winter in the mud filled trenches on the salient until during spring 1918 they were transferred to the Somme as the Germans had again attacked in force. The 50th Division was initially in reserve, then rushed forward to the front line but were soon forced to retreat. In April on the Lys the strength of the 1/8th Battalion was further reduced in strength until being destroyed in fighting on the River Aisne May 27th 1918.
Private 300535 Robert Smiles died of wounds on the battlefield during the Battle of Lys, April 10th 1918 and interred at Haverskerque British Cemetery, Nord, France, 5 kilometres behind the front line, grave A. 19. He was 30 years of age.
His widow received all monies due to him, his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and a pension for herself and their daughter until she remarried in 1919 to Fred Adams at Gateshead where they settled at 75, Milling Street, Teams, Gateshead, County Durham. Edith commissioned at a cost of 3 shillings 9 pence an additional inscription to be added to Robert’s military headstone, it reads, “Thy Will Be Done.”
Robert’s mother was married in 1906 to Patrick Clarke, Maria/Mariah Clarke nee Smiles reportedly died in about 1955 in County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert Smiles is remembered at Greencroft on G54.01 and G54.02 and at Annfield Plain on A38.01
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 77 and in the Battalion History
