A report of the inquest into his death was reported on 6th November 1915 in the Nottingham Daily Express :-
“NO MORAL COURAGE.
“Strange Depression of a Radford Clerk.
“SAD INQUEST STORY.
“On Wednesday morning [3rd November 1915] the body of Robert William Smallwood, a shorthand clerk, of Middleton-street, Radford, was found in the canal near Beeston. There was a wound in the throat.
“An inquest was held at Hyson Green yesterday [5th November 1915] by the City Coroner.
“The widow told the coroner that she saw her husband alive at 7.40 on Wednesday morning when he left home to go to business.
“He did not take any breakfast that morning, saying he did not want any. He was very much depressed,and had not been to work since the previous Saturday. Her husband was subject to fits of depression. They had had no cause to worry, for they were not in debt, and, so far as she was aware, her husband had not gambled.
“What do you think was the matter with him?” asked the coroner.
“Witness:”I think he was worried about his work, and was going to enlist,” the widow replied.
“The Coroner: Do you think he had been dismissed?
“Witness: No, I think he had given up is work and was sorry about it. He had been in the employ of his firm about twelve years.
“Gash in the Throat.
“A youth named James Andrews, of 17, Old Church-street, Lenton, said that whilst walking along the canal towing path near Beeston he met a man. There was nothing unusual about his appearance or demeanour to specially attract witness's attention.
“When he return he saw in the middle of the path at the “Beeston Bend” a coat and hat similar to those worn by the man he had met a little before. There were no signs of a struggle having taken place, but when the body was recovered from the water witness noticed a gash in the throat.
“Witness was certain that the body was that of the man he met earlier in the day on the towing path.
“Henry Smallwood, father of the deceased, who also lives at Radford, and who asked to give evidence, said that his son had complained to him of acute depression and of pains in the head.
“A verdict of Suicide whilst Temporarily Insane was returned.
“Employer's Kindness.
“After the verdict had been announced, a gentleman, who described himself as the deceased's employer, explained that the reason he was present was the thought the question of dismissal might be raised. On returning from a journey last Friday night he (witness) found a note left on his desk in the deceased's handwriting intimating that he did not intend to return to work.
“He had three or four times absented himself in that manner, and he (the employer) realising that he was subject to acute depression had visited him at home with the hope of cheering and encouraging him. He had also increased his wages, and improved his position, but the deceased had no moral courage.
“Lately he had talked of doing munition work, because he was afraid that life in the Army would not suit him owing to his weak chest and lungs.”
Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Soldiers' Effects Register erroneously gives his service number as 5794.