Daniel Smith
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Daniel was the son of Emma Harrison (formerly Topley nêe Hogg). Emma Hogg married William Topley in 1871 and they had at least three children who were born in Gotham: Eliza b. 1872, Sarah A b. abt 1876 and William b. abt 1880. In 1881 the widowed Emma Topley (30), a seamer (hose) and her three children Eliza, Sarah and William were boarders at Chapel Street, Gotham, in the household of widower Joseph Smith (44 b. Gotham) a framework knitter. Emma had two children by Joseph Smith: Arthur Smith b. 1885 (J/F/M) bap. Gotham St Lawrence 9 August 1885 (baptismal record: parents Joseph and Emma Smith of Gotham) and Daniel b. 1887. Although no record has been found of Emma's marriage to Joseph Smith, in 1891 she was recorded on the census as Emma Smith, widow, a sack mender (plaster works). Emma was living in Gotham with her daughters Eliza and Sarah Topley who were both stocking seamers, and her sons Arthur Smith (6) and Daniel Smith (4). Emma married George Harrison at Gotham St Lawrence on 29 June 1896 (Topley/Harrison). George probably died in 1900 and on the 1901 Census Emma Harrison (49) was recorded as a widow, living in Gotham with her sons Arthur, a plaster labourer, and Daniel, a farm servant. Emma Harrison died in 1905 aged about 54. Her son Arthur married Millie Powdrill in 1910 and in 1911 they were living on Town Street, Gotham; Arthur was now working as a plaster boiler. Daniel was a farm servant living in Thumpton Nottinghamshire, in the household of farmer John William Towers and his family. Daniel married Elsie May Mills (b. 14 May 1889) in 1912 and they had four sons: Joseph Alfred b. 1912, Clarence Ernest b. 1913, Daniel Arthur b. 1915 and Eric b. 1918. Daniel's widow was awarded a pension for herself and her four sons. Elsie May probably died in 1934. Their son Clarence began work as a gypsum miner in 1935 and on 30 August was involved in an industrial accident at the mine in which he was seriously injured. A fellow miner, William Hale, was killed. (See 'Extra information') Their father Daniel's half-sister, Eliza Topley, married Arthur Hickling; they had three children who survived infancy including Robert Willie (known as William). William served in the 1st Bn Sherwood Foresters (21160 Private) and was killed in action on 5 July 1916. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
Daniel served in the 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters. He served in France before 31 December 1915. He was killed in action on 23 March 1918 (date presumed). Daniel has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial which is in the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery. He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Arras Memorial (extract): 'Commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC: 'He was the husband of Elsie May Smith of Main Street Gotham.' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Death presumed 23 March 1918. His widow Elsie May was his sole legatee WW1 Pension Ledgers: dependants widow Elsie and children Joseph Alfred, Clarence Ernest, Daniel Arthur and Eric. His widow was awarded a pension of 33 shilling and 9d with effect from 25 November 1918. Nottingham Evening Post, 16 August 1935: ‘Gotham Mine Fatality. Two Men Trapped By Fall. Married Man’s Death. Colleague Injured And In Hospital. One man was killed and another seriously injured in a fall of roof at one of the three gypsum mines at Gotham to-day. The dead man was William Hale (sic), 47, of Leake-road, Gotham, a married man with three children, whose wife has been an invalid for the past 12 months, and the injured man is Clarence Smith, 21, of 17, Gladstone-street, Gotham, whose injuries include a fractured thigh. The mine where the fall occurred is owned by Messrs. JW Sheppard and Co. who own two of the three gypsum mines at Gotham. And who style the mine where the fatality occurred as No. 2 Pit. A party of three men, Hale, Smith, and a man named John Leslie Allom, who lives in Curzon-street, Gotham, were working at the face this morning. After Shot-Firing. A shot had been fired, and the three men had moved to a place of safety while the explosion occurred. After waiting for what they thought was a reasonable tme, Hale and Smith moved toward the face. It was then that a further and totally unexpected fall of roof occurred. Stone and earth weighing several hundredweight fell on the two men, and Hale was doubled up under the weight, almost completely buried, and undoubtedly met death instantaneously … The dead man had also worked in the mine for a long period. He leaves three grown-up sons. The injured man, Clarence Smith, had been employed in the mine only six or seven weeks. He was an orphan, his father having been killed in the war and his mother dying in February … It is stated that this is the first fatal accident in themine since the war period.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 30 August 1935: ‘Gypsum Mine Tragedy’ Report of inquest, 30 August; verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ (Hale). Note: Richard William Hale's brother, Charles Edward Hale, served in the 2/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action on 26 September 1916. (See record on this Roll of Honour.)
