John Fletcher Smith

John Fletcher Smith was born in 1898 in Scarborough and was the son of John James Smith a commercial traveller and Sarah Louisa Smith née Fletcher of 101 Noel Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham. His father John James was born in 1862 in Durham and his mother Sarah Louisa Fletcher was born in 1870 in Oxenthorpe, Yorkshire. They were married in 1896 in Scarborough and went on to have the following children, John Fletcher b1898 Scarborough, Reginald Farmery b1900 Halifax, Ethel May b1902 Rochdale and Cecil Douglas b1905 Leicester. In the 1911 census the family are living at 19 Laurie Ave, Nottingham and are shown as John James 49 yrs a grocers inspector, he is living with his wife Sarah Louisa 41 yrs and their children John Fletcher 13 yrs a scholar, Reginald Farmery 11 yrs a scholar, Ethel May 9 yrs a scholar and Cecil Douglas 6yrs a scholar. His probate was proven on 10th October 1916 in Nottingham and shows him as John Fletcher Smith of 101 Noel Street, Nottingham Lieutenant in HM Army died 28th July 1916 at Beaulie Hampshire. Effects £75. Administration awarded to John James Smith a commercial traveller (father)

Lieutenant John Fletcher Smith, 19th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, attached Royal Flying Corps, was drowned accidentally at Beaulieu, Hampshire, on 28th July 1916. He is buried in Nottingham Church Cemetery.

There was a Royal Flying Corps training airfield, RFC Beaulieu, at East Boldre near Beaulieu, Hampshire (closed 1919). Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, Saturday 29 July 1916: ‘Smith. John Fletcher Smith, 1st Lieutenant, RFC, eldest dearly beloved son of Mr and Mrs JJ Smith, 10 Noel-street, Nottingham, accidentally drowned, Beaulieu, Hants. July 28th.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Article published 31st July 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED. LIEUT. J. F. SMITH. “Lieut. John Fletcher Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Smith, Noel-street, Nottingham, has been accidentally drowned. He gained his commission in the Sherwood Foresters in February, 1915, and was promoted in January this year. He had recently been attached to the Royal Flying Corps.” Notice published 1st August 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “SMITH. – John Fletcher Smith, 1st Lieutenant R.F.C., eldest dearly beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Smith, 101, Noel-street, Nottingham, accidentally drowned, Beaulieu, Hants., July 28th, aged 19 years. Interred at Rock Cemetery, 3.15, Thursday, August 3rd. Service at New Basford Wesleyan Church, at 2.” Above are both courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918