Allen Smith
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Allen was born in 1883 in Whatton and was the son of Moss Smith a carter with the City Corporation, and Fanny Smith née Bransby. They lived at 30 Moreland Street, Meadow Lane, Nottingham. His father Moss was born in 1861 in Whatton and his mother Fanny (Ann) Bransby was born in 1856 also in Whatton, they were married in the Bingham Registration district in 1882 and went on to have 8 children, sadly two of whom died. Their surviving children were:- Allen b1883 Whatton, Catherine b1885 Aslockton, Emma b1886 Aslocton, Elizabeth b1887 Aslockton, Ida b1887 Aslockton and Charles b1895 in Radcliffe on Trent. Allen married his wife Fanny Holland (born in 1883 in Newark) in Sneinton, Nottingham on 29th July 1903; they went on to have a daughter Sarah Elizabeth born 13th September 1905 in Nottingham. In the 1911 census his family is living at 30 Moreland Street, Meadow Lane, Nottingham, and are shown as Moss 50 yrs, a carter, living with his wife Fanny 55 yrs and three of their children, Emma 25 yrs a capsule filler at Boots Cash chemist, Ida 24 yrs a pill room worker at Boots Cash Chemist and Charlie 16 yrs a railway and general engineer. Meanwhile in the same census we find Allen living with his family at 43 Sutton Street, Meadow Lane. They are shown as Allen 28 yrs a warehouseman porter, he is living with his wife Fanny 28 yrs and their daughter Sarah Elizabeth Smith 5 yrs. On 4th April 1913 Allen and Fanny had their second child Albert Ernest who was born on 4th April 1914 in Nottingham. On the 2nd March 1917 his widow Fanny was to receive news of her husband's death; in a short telegram she was informed, "Regret to inform you that 232689 Sapper Allen Smith died in Minster Hospital 28th February 1917 from pneumonia." On 21st March 1917 their son Albert Ernest died of burns, he was four years of age. See 'extra information' below. On 30th August 1917, his widow Fanny received a letter from the Ministry of Pensions informing her that she would be receiving a pension of 18 shillings and 9 pence a week commencing 3rd September 1917 in relation to her and her child.
Sapper Allen Smith enlisted in Nottingham on 9th December 1915. He was 32 yrs and 11 months old, he stated his occupation to be a chemist assistant and he lived at 43 Sutton Street, Nottingham. The following day he was placed into the reserves. He was mobilised on 16th January 1917 and was posted as a sapper to the Inland Water Transport Section of the Royal Engineers, he joined them at Sandwich. On 2nd February 1917 he was admitted to the military hospital at Minster suffering from bronchitis he died at the hospital on 28th February 1917. His body was returned to his family and he was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery, and his name is commemorated on the Screen Wall. A medical report written by Major Sutton the commanding officer of Hill House Military Hospital, Minster, Ramsgate, states, 'Admitted 2nd February 1917 with severe bronchitis, after a week of serious illness began to improve until on 18th February 1917 he was able to get up. On 25th had a relapse and extensive pneumonia developed, death occurred at 03.30 hrs 28th February 1917, cause of death, bronchitis and pneumonia.'
On 4th April 1917, his widow, Fanny Smith, appeared at the Guildhall charged with failing to provide a fire-guard, which had led to the death of their four year-old son, Albert Ernest Smith. The magistrates did not convict, in view of the recent loss of her husband. The event was published in article in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 4th April 1917 : - “NO FIREGUARD “SAD CASE OF NOTTM. WIDOW. “A sad case arising out of a child’s death from burning came before the magistrates at the Nottingham Summons Court this morning [4th April1917] when Mrs. Fanny Smith, 43, Sutton-street, was summoned for failing provide a fireguard in a room where there was a young child. “At the inquest held on the child, [Albert] Ernest Smith, aged four, on the 23rd of last month, it was stated that when the mother entered the room after a short absence she found her son in a terrible state, his clothing having been practically all burnt off the body. “In view of the fact that defendant’s husband had recently died of pneumonia after having been only eight weeks in the army, and the sad circumstances of the child’s death, the magistrates, although emphasising the serious nature of the offence, decided to dismiss the summons." Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
