Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Smith, one of 10 children of whom only 7 had survived by 1911, was the 2nd born of 5 sons, 3 daughters, 2 gender unknown. His father John George Smith of Sunderland born 1859 married March 24th 1883 at Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, to local girl Jane Oliver Southern, born November 8th 1861 at 14, Peacock Street, North Bishop Wearmouth, County Durham. Their son Edward was born in 1884, Robert 1886, daughter Louise 1887, Elizabeth 1890 and Thomas William in 1891 while they were living at 8, Deptford Road, Bishop Wearmouth, where John George was employed as a pressed glass maker. While Jane was pregnant with their sixth child their daughter Louise died aged 7 years just prior to the birth of Sarah Jane in 1895, Samuel and his younger brother George Henry were born 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1897 and 1902 respectively. In 1891 the family were living at 19, Beech Street, Sunderland, John George had been joined at the glass works by his sons Edward (17) and Robert (16) and by 1911 it provided employment for the entire family with the exception of George Henry (8) who was a scholar and Robert (25) a general labourer. Thomas Smith (19) was an apprentice glassmaker, Samuel (14) was employed in the mould room, Sarah Jane (16) and Elizabeth (21) worked in the glasshouse as washers. They had moved into 3 rooms at 9, Cornwall Street.
Robert was married during the 1st quarter 1913 to Mary Alice Godfrey in the district of Sunderland, settling at Ryhope, Sunderland, County Durham, their son Joseph was born during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1914, either just prior or just after the declaration of war with Germany.
He enlisted at Ryhope in 1914 joining the other new recruits at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Depot, Northumberland. In late September they departed by train from Newcastle station bound for Aylesbury in Hampshire. Aylesbury was a tented camp and it was here that the recruits were split as part of Kitchener’s New Third Army into the 14th and 15th Battalions Durham Light Infantry. Robert was assigned as Private 15484 to the 14th Battalion which by October had joined the 15th at Halton Park as part of the 64th Brigade, 21st Division. Hampered by bad weather, without uniforms, rifles and few experience officers initial training was difficult, in December they moved into billets at High Wycombe until the spring of 1915 and once they received khaki uniforms and equipment training intensified until they were ready for service overseas.
The 14th and 15th Battalions moved to Witley Camp near Aldershot in July 1915 and departed, September 11th 1915 for France. At the time of his departure his wife was pregnant. Landing at Boulogne with the 21st Division 2 weeks later still unprepared and inexperienced both battalions were brought up as reserves during the Battle at Loos, the first British major offensive of the war and saw front line action, September 26th 1915 on the second day of battle.
November 28th 1915 the 14th Battalion D.L.I. was transferred to the 18th Brigade, 6th Division which in 1916 was in action at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on the Somme, in 1917 at Hill 70 and Cambrai and were disbanded in February 1918.
The record of Private 15484 Robert Smith Durham Light Infantry could not be found. It is therefore uncertain whether he returned to England having been wounded or suffering from disease. He died of pneumonia, January 10th 1917, at 16, Ryhope Street, South Ryhope, Sunderland, County Durham, and was interred at Ryhope Cemetery, Sunday, January 14th at 2 p.m. with full military honours. Reference 4.1350.
His widow commissioned and paid for an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “The Ties Of Love Can Ne’er Be Riven They Stronger Grow From Earth To Heaven”. Mary Alice also received all monies due to him from the Army, a pension for herself and their 2 children, having given birth to their daughter Edith in 1916 also his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Media. She had moved to 3, Grange Street, Grangetown, Sunderland by 1919 with Joseph (5) and Edith (2).
Given the numerous BMD entries under the surname Smith, no further details as regards Mary Alice Smith nee Godfrey, Joseph or Edith Smith have been found.
Robert's brother Samuel also died in WW1.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert Smith is remembered at Ryhope on R52.01 and R52.02 and at Sunderland on S140.048 Part 2 page 30
