Life story told by Paul Beecroft.
A.E. SMITH
CH. ENG. ROOM ARTFCR. 1ST CL.
R.N. 268125
H.M.T.B. 067
3RD OCTOBER 1917 AGE 51
Albert Edward SMITH was born in Reading on what is thought to be 24th January 1868.* His parents were William George SMITH and Jane Ann SMITH nee MOULDING. In 1871 the family were living at 6, Victoria Terrace, Orts Road, Reading. His father’s occupation is shown as a Wheelwright. Albert had two siblings, Rose and Kate who were older than him. A brother, Sydney, was born five years later.
In 1881 the family are now living at 38, Donnington Road, Reading. His father’s occupation is shown as a Millwright and Albert is an Apprentice Millwright. The census for 1891 confirms the family is still at 38, Donnington Road and that Albert is now a qualified Millwright.
In 1894, on 3rd May, Albert had a change of occupation when he joined the Royal Navy. After initial training he became an ERA (Engine room artificer) 4th Class. Albert worked his way up and by 1908 he was Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class. During his career he would serve on many ships including HMS Victor Emanuel (an Agamemnon class steam battleship), HMS Pique (a wooden sailing frigate), HMS Bulwark (Battleship), HMS Blake (cruiser), HMS Leander (cruiser) and several shore bases.
The census for 1901 shows that Albert is a boarder at 72, Albert Road, Devonport along with another Engine Room Artificer.
The census for 1911 shows that Albert is married to Lily (Lilian) who came from Somerset. Her maiden name is not known. They are living at 21, Portland Place, Devonport. The census records that they have been married for one year and they have a daughter Elsie who is 7 months old, and was born in Somerset.
During WWI, Albert was serving onboard HMS Isis from August 1914 until June 1917. The Isis was an Eclipse class cruiser and attached to the 11th Cruiser Squadron. During early 1915 the Isis was one of nine cruisers assigned to the North America and West Indies Station and then later in the year joined the British Adriatic Squadron. Very little else is known about the Isis during Albert’s time onboard outside of a mention of the ship’s mascots which was a dog and a goat.
On leaving the Isis Albert was drafted to HMS Vivid II, a shore base in Devonport. Seventeen days later he became part of the crew of HMTB 067 a torpedo boat patrolling coastal waters. On 3rd October 1917, the torpedo boat was on patrol in heavy seas. Exactly what happened is not known but somehow Albert went overboard and did not survive. An Inquest took place into the circumstances and a verdict returned was ‘Death resulted from Syncope due to sudden immersion through accidently falling overboard while on duty’. A Court of Enquiry found that no blame was attributable to anyone.
Albert is now buried in Reading Old Cemetery.
*Albert’s date of birth (24 Jan 1868) is shown on his Royal Navy service record. If this is correct, then he was 49 years old when he died and not 51. However, the BMD (Birth, Marriages & Deaths) Index shows the only Albert Smith, and this is Albert E. Smith was born in the first quarter of 1866 which would mean he was 51 when he died. The census for 1871 shows he is 5 years old in the 1881 census he is 15 which suggest he was born in 1866. The next census 1891 his age is not clear. In the 1901 census his age is given as 34 which suggests a birth year of 1867. The census for 1911 appears to be totally wrong as he is shown as 40 years old.
Division 3, Row H, Plot 12