Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Jack Sydney Smith, born on 30 January 1895 at Timaru, was the only son of John Smith and his wife, Emma née Raddon. Both Jack and his sister, Lile Seymour Smith who was almost eleven years older than Jack, were baptised at St Mary’s Anglican Church, Timaru on 1 June 1898. His mother died in June 1904 and his father in July 1910 at his residence, “Howthorpe”, Saltwater Creek. John Smith left his home farm at Kingsdown for his only son, Jack Sydney Smith, on Jack’s attaining the age of 25. Jack was educated locally at Timaru South School and Timaru Boys’ High School. Jack received a prize for Standard V writing in 1908. Before the prize-giving, parents and others had an opportunity to glance over the school work, which was a of “a decidedly neat and high standard”. In February 1910 Jack left Timaru South School, where he had been a pupil since 1901, for the Timaru Boys’ High School. He was also recorded as a student at Wanganui Collegiate School, which school records him on its 1914-1918 War Roll of Honour. Mr J. A. Valentine, the “capable and esteemed headmaster” of Timaru South School was farewelled in May 1913. Mr Valentine was presented with an inscribed handbag from fifteen old boys and girls of the school, who were then resident in Christchurch. It was a token of esteem from a few ex-pupils, and it showed that “these old pupils had not forgotten their young days.” It was pleasing to know that “the pupils of the South School were doing excellent work after they left school, as a result of their good training.” Among the names which accompanied the present was J. S. Smith. Was this Jack Sydney Smith?

J. Smith (Timaru) and two other Wanganui Collegiate old boys went Home by the “Remuera” in mid-1915 and were granted commissions in the Imperial Army to serve in the Royal Flying Corps. Jack Sydney Smith (born 30 Jan 1895), 2nd Lieut. 4th North Staffords, gained his Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate on a Maurice Farman Biplane on 12 May 1916 at the Military School, Brooklands. His address at that time was care of A. D. Henderson, 110 Fenchurch Street, (London). It is probable that he was appointed Captain early on his service. Throughout 1917 he moved between the ranks of lieutenant and captain.

Jack named his sister Lile as the person to be informed of casualties – Mrs T. H. Ivey, Hawthorpe, Saltwater Creek, Timaru, New Zealand. Mrs T. H. Ivey, Kingsdown, received word from the War Office, London, that her brother, 2nd Lieutenant J. S. Smith, of the Royal Flying corps had been wounded on 26 October 1916. He was admitted to the 7th stationary hospital at Boulogne, with multiple gunshot wounds. As of 8 February 1917, he was unfit for General Service for 3 months, Home Service for 6 weeks but fit for Limited Duty with flying. As of 2 March 1917, he was unfit for General Service for one month but fit for Home Service. On 8 May he was deemed fit again for General Service. He was admitted to hospital again on 30 June 1918, and to a London hospital on 3 July. He was unfit for General Service for four weeks but fit for Home Service.

Smith was likely discharged on 17 March 1919 and transferred to the Unemployed List the following month. On 15 April 1921, he was restored to the Active List for temporary duty, and seven weeks later re-transferred to the Unemployed List. At this time he held the rank of flight-lieutenant, having previously been captain.

Jack Sydney Smith, 2 Lieutenant, 4th North Staffordshire Regiment, and Captain, Royal Air Force, was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal, for his service in World War I. Jack S. Smith (from Wanganui school, whose home is at Fairlie), was at Pembroke University, reported the Press of 18 December 1919 and the Evening Post of 1 January 1920. The London Gazette, 3 May 1921, records under Pilot Officers - Jack Sydney Smith; The London Gazette, 26 March 1940, the undermentioned Pilot Officers on probation are confirmed in their appointments and promoted to the rank of Flying Officer on the dates stated - 7th Sept 1939 - Jack Sydney Smith (73273). For Smith, Jack Sydney, No. 1912, the Wanganui Collegiate School Register records “Selwyn” (house), 1910/1915 (years of attendance); 128 Piccadilly, London, W.1; Son of J; Cambridge univ; Captain, RFC (Royal Flying Corps), France; Engineer and Salesman. Manager London Branch Messrs John Walker and Sons Ltd.

Jack was residing in Piccadilly, Westminster, in 1930. In 1934 Jack, an assistant manager, of 128 Piccadilly, London, left England for New York. And in 1939, 44-year-old manager Jack Smith, of 128 Piccadilly, left for Tanzania, which was to become his residence. Throughout the 1950s especially, Jack and his wife, Mary Christobel, of Chatley Wood, Ringwood, travelled abroad frequently, usually to Trinidad or Jamaica.

Jack Sydney Smith, of Saltwater Creek, Timaru, New Zealand, and of the Royal Air Force Club, Piccadilly, had married Mrs Christobel Stobart, of Chatley Wood, Ringwood, Hampshire, on 3 June 1946 quietly in London (The Times, 15 May 1946). Mary Christobel Stobart (née King), who had been previously married, was widowed in 1942. It was at Chatley Wood that Jack died on 13 November 1971, leaving an estate worth £28291. Mary Christobel Smith died in 1977.

Sources

Timaru Herald, 16 December 1908, 2 August 1910, 9 May 1913, 2 November 1916, Wanganui Chronicle, 8 September 1915, Wanganui Herald, 8 September 1915, Press, 18 December 1919, Evening Post, 1 January 1920, Lyttelton Times, 1 August 1910 (Papers Past) [23 January 2020; 02 & 03 February 2020; 01 October 2021]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [02 February 2020]; School Admission record (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [02 February 2020]; Wanganui Collegiate School Register (ancestry.com.au) [02 February 2020]; British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards (ancestry.com.au) [03 February 2020]; Medal Card (The National Archives – Discovery – ref. WO 372/18/160560) [09 February 2021]; Great Britain Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates (ancestry.com.au) [03 February 2020]; The London Gazette, 3 May 1921, 26 March 1940 (google search) [03 February 2020]; Passenger lists (ancestry.com.au) [03 & 04 February 2020]; England Electoral Roll entry (ancestry.com.au) [04 February 2020]; England marriage & death indexes (FreeBMD) [04 February 2020; 17 January 2023]; England Probate Index (ancestry.com.au) [04 February 2020]; The Times, London, 15 May 1946 [04 February 2020]; Air Ministry of the Master-General of Personnel Officers’ Service Records (The National Archives – Discovery – ref. AIR 76/472/46) [09 February 2021]; St Mary’s Timaru Baptism record (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [01 October 2021]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record

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