Douglas Smith
On the 1939 England and Wales Register Douglas is listed as a railway general labourer, heavy work which explains why he was in the 159th Railway Construction Company.
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Son of William Joseph and Elizabeth Smith of 32 Ninth Avenue, Forest Town.
Siblings Violet (1901), Elizabeth (1902), William (1905), Henry (1908), Winnie (1910) and Vera (1914).
Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 16/8/1940: On the Lancastria.
News has been received by his parents Mr & Mrs W. J. Smith of 32 Ninth Avenue, Forest Town that Pte Douglas Smith is missing, that he is one of those missing after the sinking of the Lancastria. 23 years old, he was known as a footballer in the district. Played regularly for St Alban's F.C. His brother, William, is also a footballer and their father was a renowned cricketer. Pte Smith joind up on January 15th this year.
The Lancastria was an ocean liner which was used to evacuate the B.E.F from St Nazaire but was attacked and sunk. She had space for 1300 passengers but she had been taken on board thousands of soldiers. It is estimated that between 4000 and 7000 died in the sinking.
IWM: hold the private papers of W Hall of the 159th Railway Construction Company.
They describe the company's time in France, around Rennes from April to June 1940 and their retreat to St Nazaire through the chaos of refugees and the attacks by German aircraft. They embarked on the Lancastria on the 17th June. W Hall survived the sinking being picked up by the troopship Oronsay after spending a lot of time in the sea.
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