JAMES ALFRED PHILIP SMITH
James’ portrait and profile will be displayed at a V.J. Day exhibition, “Be Ye Men of Valour“, from Saturday, 9th August to Monday, 25th August (Bank Holiday) 2025, at St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich, IP4 2BT.
James is not remembered on the war memorial at Christchurch Park.
Images courtesy of Christine.
Born: 27th June 1913, Ipswich.
Died: 22nd May 1941; age 28; MPK when H.M.S.’Fiji’ was sunk in the Battle for Crete.
Occupation: a Musician in the Royal Navy.
Residence: 18, Clanwilliam Road, Deal, Kent.
Rank: Musician; Service Number: RMB/X/241.
Regiment: Royal Marine Band, H.M.S.’Fiji.’
Memorial Reference:
Panel 60. Column 1.
Hampshire.
Paternal Cousin to PHILIP FREDERICK POTKINS
Father: James Nelson Smith, born 1890, Ipswich – died 1918, Ipswich.
Mother: Alice Maud Smith (nee Potkins), born 1892, Ipswich – died 1920, Ipswich.
Sister: Gladys Grace Winifred Smith, born December 1914, Ipswich.
Maternal Grandfather: Philip Potkins, born 1859, Grundisburgh, Suffolk – died 1932, Ipswich.
Maternal Grandmother: Britannia Potkins (nee Long), born 1867, Ipswich – died 1945, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1921 Union Workhouse, Woodbridge Road, Rushmere St. Andrew, Suffolk.
James was 8 years old. He and his sister, Gladys, were Inmates at the Workhouse. James and Gladys attended School.
Gladys Smith, 7 years old.
In 1936, Kent, James married Georgina Newing, a shop assistant, born December 1910, 49, College Road, Deal, Kent – daughter of George Newing, a labourer for the Corporation, and Rosella Ellen Newing (nee Knight), of 24, Campbell Road, Deal, Kent.
ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939
Georgina Smith was a shop assistant and lived at their apartment – 18, Clanwilliam Road, Kent. James, a Musician, was away with the Royal Navy School of Music in Deal.
H.M.S.’Fiji’
H.M.S.’Fiji.’
Naval-History.Net:
22nd May 1941
Repelled series of heavy air attacks during withdrawal from Kithera Channel.
Detached with HMS GLOUCESTER to provide AA protection to destroyers KANDAHAR and KINGSTON, picking up survivors from HM Destroyer GREYHOUND.
Subjected to further air attacks, during which HMS GLOUCESTER was hit and set on fire.
The area was left with the two destroyers because of the continuing air threat. During passage, damaged by near miss from single aircraft causing flooding in the engine room which reduced speed and caused listing. In subsequent attacks hit by three bombs, which increased list. Rolled over, and sank an hour later in position 34.35N, 23.10E. Immediate rescue of survivors by HM Destroyers KANDAHAR and KINGSTON was impossible because of continuing acute danger of air attacks.
Rafts and boats left for those able to escape by swimming. 523 members of the ship’s company were picked up after nightfall. (Note: Both cruisers had low stocks of AA ammunition, and the judgement to send them to provide defence during rescue is one of the many criticisms made after WW2 regarding the disastrous operations off Crete in 1941.
A family note:
James’s father, James Nelson Smith, died in the flu pandemic which followed the ending of WW1, and tragically, James and his sister were orphaned when their mother died two years later. Initially (I am told) placed in an orphanage, James and Gladys were ‘rescued’ by their widowed grandmother, Britannia Potkins, who cared for them and brought them up. As a matter of interest, I am also attaching a photo of this indomitable lady with the two children. Having suffered so much loss, it must have been heart-breaking for Gladys to have lost her brother James when the HMS Fiji was sunk; my late husband was born in 1943, and his middle name was James in memory of him.
Christine Green.
Leave a Reply