WALTER HERBERT SMITH
Laid to rest at the Field of Honour.
Born: 18th April 1879, St. Peter’s, Ipswich.
Baptised on the 17th April 1881, at St. Mary Stoke Church, Ipswich – family home at Halifax Cottages, Wherstead Road, Ipswich.
Died: 20th April 1919; age: 40; died from a Bullet Wound through the right lung – 2 years, and Pneumonia – 4 days, at 19 Croft Street, Ipswich, the home of his widowed sister, Mrs. Alice Eleanor Gill (nee Smith), who was present at the death. Served 3 years & 62 days.
Residence: 19, Croft Street, Ipswich.
Occupation: Railway Labourer.
Enlistment Details: Location: Ipswich; date: 5th September 1914; age: 35 years & 4 months; religion: CofE. Signed up for the Duration of the War. Next of Kin: sister – Alice Gill, og 19, Croft Street, Ipswich. Height: 5ft 4 ins, sallow complexion, brown eyes & dark hair.
Date of Entry Therein: 31st August 1915 – France.
Service:
Joined at Shoreham.
Home: 5th September 1914 – 30th August 1915.
France: 31st August 1915 – 22nd September 1916.
Home: 23rd September 1916 – 21st March 1917.
France: 22nd March 1917 – 30th August 1917.
Home: 31st August 1917 – 5th November 1917.
Wounded: Gunshot wound – back – 24th September 1916 – 13th November 1916 – 50 days.
Discharged: Physically unfit – 5th November 1917. Originated August 1917 – not the result of, but aggravated by, active and ordinary military service.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 13478.
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, ‘B’ Coy, 8th Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War and 1915 Star + Silver War Badge.
The funeral service was held on the 25th April at St. Mary’s Stoke Church, Ipswich, followed by burial.
Grave Reference:
BA.2.96.
Ipswich.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Charles Smith.
CENSUS
1881 Wherstead Road, Ipswich.
Walter was 2 years old and living with his parents, siblings & stepbrother at the home of his maternal grandparents.
John Burgess, 70, a Farm Labourer, born Chelmondiston, Suffolk.
Hannah Burgess, 70, born Chelmondiston.
Charles Smith, 34, an Oil Cake Presser, born Ipswich.
Hannah Smith (nee Burgess(1st marriage Collins)), 45, born Chelmondiston.
Frederick Collins, 9, born Ipswich.
Charles Smith, 9, born Ipswich.
Alice Eleanor Smith, 4, born Ipswich.
1891 29, Station Street, Ipswich.
Walter was 11 years old and living with his parents, stepbrother, siblings & cousin.
Charles, 43, a Pressman – Oil Mill.
Hannah, 56.
Charles, 19, a Labourer – Oil Mill.
Fred, 19, a Foundry Man.
Alice, 13, a Mother’s Help.
Harry Holloway, 14, a Printer’s Labourer, born Sheerness, Kent.
1901 29, Station Street, Ipswich.
Walter was 21 years old, a Bricklayer. He was living with his widowed mother & niece.
Hannah, 67, a Laundress – own account – at home.
Eliza Smith, 8, born Ipswich.
1 lodger.
Walter’s father, Charles Smith, died by drowning in the river on the 8th July 1898.
Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – Friday, 15th July 1898 – THE IPSWICH RIVER MYSTERY – AN OPEN VERDICT – A public inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of an unfortunate labourer named Charles Smith, 50, of Station Street, Ipswich, whose body was recovered from the fresh water lock in the River Gipping early on Saturday morning, was conducted at the Higher Grade School, Foundation Street, on Monday night by the Deputy-Coroner, Mr. A. F. Vulliamy. The evidence was lengthy, but it was not conclusive, and an open verdict was consequently returned.
The widow, Mrs. Hannah Smith, told the Jury that the deceased left work on the Saturday previous to the finding of his body, and was away from home until Monday night. He was out all Tuesday, and on his return at night he said he had been to work. She last saw him alive just before eight o’clock on Wednesday morning, when he left home. Two summers ago he had jaundice, and last summer he was attended by Mr. W. J. Staddon for the same complaint. He had not since been under the doctor, though he had seemed right in his mind. He was in the habit of having a glass of beer, but she had not seen him the worse for drink lately. On his return on Monday he said he had been to work, but she subsequently found this was incorrect. He had never been out of his mind, but on one occasion his three sons had to hold him down, and the doctor said that if he was not better the next morning he would have to go to the Asylum.
By the Foreman: He did not threaten to commit suicide that night. Continuing, witness explained that the deceased left home, and resided with Mr. Diamond, landlord of the Crown Inn, for nine months. During that time he was taken ill, and she fetched him home. She could assign no reason for his leaving home, and she repudiated the suggestion that she was told by Mr. Staddon that he had delirium tremens. She declared everything was comfortable at home, and admitted that during his absence he never sent any money for her support.
Annie Collins, wife of Frederick Collins, son of the previous witness, gave evidence of identification, and said the deceased’s reason for leaving home and taking up residence at Mr. Diamond’s was because he could not get his own way. Last summer, during his illness, he appeared strange, though not so strange as the previous summer. The witness also corroborated the evidence of Mrs. Smith.
Julian Diamond said the deceased had a glass of beer at the Crown on Tuesday morning just before six. His master asked him to go to work at six, and he replied that he did not feel well enough, but that he would go at nine. He took a second half-pint away with him, and at eleven o’clock the witness again saw him in front of the bar. He still complained of not feeling well enough for work, and the witness refused to supply him with any more drink. From the first week of October, 1896, to the middle of June, 1897, he resided at the Crown, and said his reason for doing so was because things were not comfortable at home. The witness had seen him a “little bit fresh” at times, but last Tuesday he was quite sober, though he looked pale and queer. The witness paid his club money, so he should not run out of compliance, but for the recovery of it and other money the deceased owed him he had to take County Court proceedings. An order for the payment of 3s. a month was made on the 16th March, and two instalments had been paid. This was likely one of the things which troubled him.
John Morley, and of the deceased’s companions, said that when he last saw him on Thursday, Charles Smith looked strange in the face, and said he was not up to much. The witness thought he had had a little beer. He had never heard him threaten to commit suicide.
William Sporle, bargeman, spoke to discovering the body in the river, the deceased’s coat being entangled in the screw.
Joseph Baldry, attendant at the West End Bathing Place, deposed that on Friday morning between 10:30 and 11 he saw the deceased on Portman’s Walk, and at intervals during the day – from ten to a dozen times, and up to half-past eight – he saw him walking by the side of the Gipping. He appeared to be sober.
Police-constable Alf. Garnham and Mr. Webster Adams, surgeon, also gave evidence, the latter attributing death to drowning.
Verdict: “Found drowned.”
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