In Killingworth St. John’s Churchyard is a special headstone which reads:
Buried in this Churchyard
309090 A/Bombardier
J.W. Smith
Royal Garrison Artillery
20th July 1917
J. Bunton served as
J. Fenton
West Yorkshire Regiment
29th December 1917
W.J. Smith’s initials have been transposed on the headstone.
He was the husband of H. F. Smith, of 14, Knights Buildings, Dudley Colliery, Northumberland
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William John Smith was one of 8 known children, offspring of William Smith and Martha Smith nee Smith both of whom originated from Cumberland. William was born at Brampton in circa 1848, Martha at Carlisle in 1846, where they were married in 1865.
The Smiths moved between Cumberland and County Durham until circa1883 in William’s search for employment. Robert Smith was born at Carlisle in 1869, Martha Ann at Gateshead, historically in County Durham in 1870, as William Smith had found employment as a labourer at the iron works. In 1871 they occupied the address of Sister’s Yard, High Street, Gateshead but had moved to Swalwell near Gateshead a few years later, birthplace of James in 1875 and Catherine 1879.
By 1880 they had returned to Carlisle where Martha gave birth to their son John, June 20th 1880. They had settled at Milton Street, Carlisle where William was a general labourer, the children, with the exception of John, were scholars.
Having returned to the north east of England between 1881 and 1883 they settled in the suburbs of Newcastle upon Tyne at 7, Leighton’s Yard, Byker, one of a row of tenement building occupied by no fewer than 4 large families and where William John was born in 1883, Peter in 1888.
William Smith was an unskilled worker and took employment where he could find it. In 1891 he was a bricklayer’s labourer. His elder children contributed to the household income, Robert (22) as a slater’s labourer, Hugh (18), a general labourer and James (16) was employed at the glasshouse. Catherine (12), John (10), William John (8) and Peter (3) were scholars.
William John Smith was married at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1905 to Henrietta Franklin Dickinson who was born September 6th 1884, in Elswick, Newcastle where she was baptised September 23rd. Her father house carpenter and joiner Thomas Dickinson originated from Newcastle upon Tyne, her mother Harriet Franklin was born in Aberdare, Glamorgan, South Wales.
After several years their marriage was still childless. They took into their home a young infant, Ronald Walter Tannerhill Lamont born at Newcastle upon Tyne, June 22nd 1908. In the census of 1911 he is listed as their adopted son although adoption did not become legal in the U.K. until 1926. In 1911 they were living in 1 room at 14, Knight’s Building, Dudley Colliery, 2 miles north of Killingworth and 2 miles south of Cramlington, which offered employment to William John Smith as a colliery fireman at the bank, an area situated at the top of the shaft.
When war was declared, August 4th 1914, men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms. William John Smith enlisted in Cramlington and was assigned to the Royal Garrison Artillery II as Acting Bombardier 309099, Lancashire Heavy Brigade of the Territorial Force. During phase II intensive training was given in gunnery, air defence, surveillance and signals, lasting about 3 months. As this appears to be his only service number he must have enlisted after the introduction of the Military Service Act of May 1916 which conscripted all married men between the ages of 18 to 41 years to serve their Country. Available records state he served in the U.K. on active service.
Acting Bombardier William John Smith died of bronchial pneumonia contracted on active service, July 29th 1917, at the 1st Birmingham War Hospital, Warwickshire. At the request of his widow and at her own expense, the Army organised the return of her late husband’s body to their home address of 14, Knight’s Buildings, Dudley Colliery. William John Smith was laid to rest within St. John’s Churchyard, Killingworth, near Newcastle upon Tyne. The exact location of his grave is unknown but his burial is recorded in the Church Register.
Considered a casualty of war and recorded as Acting Bombardier J. W. Smith, Special Memorial “A” was authorised in the form of a military headstone, March 12th 1930. Erected September 29th 1937, 20 years after William John Smith’s demise, it stands close to and backing on the South boundary wall, facing the East path of the churchyard.
Henrietta received all monies due to her late husband, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal also a pension for herself and their adopted son Ronald until her turned 16 years of age, June 22nd 1924, in the sum of 18 shillings 9 pence a weeks as of January 28th 1918.
Henrietta Franklin Smith nee Dickinson died in 1942 at Newcastle upon Tyne, Ronald Walter Tannerhill Lamont resident of Flat 46, Esplanade Place, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear died June 18th 1988.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William John Smith is remembered at Dudley on D34.01 and at Killingworth on K9.07.
