In St. Simon’s Churchyard, Simonside is the Commonwealth War Grave with a private headstone of 17/567 Private Alfred Robert Smith, serving with ‘A’ Company, 17th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, who died 07/11/1916.

The headstone reads:-

In loving memory of
J.G. Smith
who died Jan. 30th 1903

also A.R. Smith son of the above
died Nov 7th 1916 of wounds received in France

Also Isabella
wife of the above J.G. Smith
who died July 20th 1918
aged 74 years

Alfred was born in Tyne Dock, but had enlisted at York. He joined the North Eastern Railway Company as a Mineral Clerk at the Tyne Dock in 1901 and was part of the Clerical Staff, Operative Department.

Resident address given was 38 Wenlock Road, Simonside, South Shields, with his widowed mother. He had also 2 brothers, William Ainsworth Smith who died on 21st September 1916, and the other brother who lived at 13 Tennant Street, Simonside, South Shields.

Alfred died at a Military Hospital at Camberwell of his wounds on the 7th November 1916. He had been wounded on the 5th October 1916.

His mother died on the 20th July 1918, age 74.

Source: James Hoy Archive

Additional Research: James Pasby

Alfred Robert Smith is remembered at South Shields on S86.008, S86.044 and S86.022 and on the North Eastern Railway War Memorial (York).