Royal Flying Corps
John Sydney Smith was born in the second quarter of 1888, the son of Samuel and Kate Smith. He died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley on 26 June 1916. Probate was granted to his father, occupation Corn Merchant, on 31 August 1916; his estate amounted to £690 10s 9d (£690.53).
Corporal John Sydney Smith was buried at Gloucester Old Cemetery and was given a family headstone, on which it was noted that he had a sister, who predeceased him, age nine in 1892 and also a brother S Percival, who likewise predeceased him – no date given.
Corporal Smith’s obituary appeared in the Gloucester Journal of 1 July 1916:-
Death of J S Smith
Invalided from Mesopotamia
Corporal John Sydney Smith, Royal Flying Corps (youngest son of Mr Samuel Smith of Fern Bank, Tuffley) died at Netley Hospital on Monday morning. The deceased, who had been educated at The Crypt School, was well known in Gloucester. He was attached to the Mesopotamia Transport Section, and while there contracted malaria and subsequently typhoid fever, being removed to the hospital in Alexandria. He was sent home to Netley on 11th June where (suffering from a heart condition) he had remained ever since.
Corporal Smith joined the Royal Flying Corps in March last year, and having a good mechanical knowledge of motors, his services were requisitioned for the motor transport service.
He served his apprenticeship with Messrs Badham & Co and afterwards was engaged with Messrs Alexander & Duncan’s engineering works, Leominster, subsequently travelling to Wolseley Separating Company in Birmingham. He was 28 years old when he died .
The funeral of the late Corporal J Sydney Smith who died at the Netley Hospital took place on Wednesday afternoon. The coffined remains, covered with the Union Flag, were first conveyed from the Midland Railway Station to the residence of his father at Tuffley, and then to St Mary de Crypt Church. Rev Percy Waller then took a service in the absence of the Rev Cecil Williams, who was on active service.
Researched by Graham Adams 22 November 2011