I found Albert Smith when I added “Saltney” to the search field on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, and the additional information came up – Son of John Henry and Annie Smith, of Saltney, Flintshire. I do not think he is on any memorial and he must be remembered.
Albert Smith was born on the 30th July 1920 in Chester, Cheshire, according to the Registers Of Reports Of Deaths: Naval Ratings. Albert was the son of John Henry & Annie Smith (nee Lockley) from Saltney, Flintshire.
John Henry Smith & Annie Lockley had, I believe, married in a Civil Marriage or Registrar Attended ceremony in 1905 (Cheshire West ROC/49/160).
We first see them on the 1911 census, living at 24, Cable Street, Saltney, Chester*. (4 rooms) – John Henry Smith,26, is head of the household, a Smith’s Striker doing Engine Work, having been born in Newcastle on Tyne. His wife Annie Smith, 29, tells us that 3 children had been born and they were still living, she had been born in New Town, Chester. Their three children were Agnes, 5, John James, 4 and Frank, 4 days old, all born in Saltney, Chester.
*Saltney is right on the border of Flintshire & Cheshire and it is split in two in various parts of the town, So to Chester & Flintshire described in the address, is quite normal.
The next time we see them is on the 1921 census, they are still living at the same address, but their family had expanded. John Smith, now 37 was a General Labourer in the Barb Wire Works and confirms hsi place of birth as Newcastle on Tyne, Northumberland. His wife Annie Smith, 43 was doing “Home Duties,” she had been born in Chester, Cheshire as had all her children on this census. They were Agnes, 15, John, 14, Frank, 10, James, 4 and Albert, 1.
I found 2 children Cecil & Walter Smith, born in 1914
In the 1921 census there is a gap in the children’s ages, did Walter & Cecil Smith, with the mother’s maiden name of Lockley born in 1914 and 1915 respectively. Walter died in 1914 and Cecil in 1916. Do they belong to this family and did John Henry & Annie suffer the loss of two children in a short few years?
I believe that John Henry died in 1936 (Cheshire West CHC/22/9) and maybe Annie died early, possibly in 1929 or 1932, ages 50 and 56 respectively. (Cheshire West CHC/13/54 & Cheshire West CHR/11/53). Any help would be appreciated.
I do not know if my research is correct, but if anyone knows anything that would add to Albert’s story, please contact the website, so Albert’s story can be told, and he will be remembered for his sacrifice.
However Albert was to enlist or was conscripted and found himself in the Royal Navy, being stationed on H.M.S. Glorious and being involved in a horrendous naval battle on the 8th June 1940.
Many thanks to Ben Barker, Grandson of Lt. Cdr. J F ‘Ben’ Barker DSC RN – captain of HMS Ardent, who wrote the story on the website below, he was the author of the story on the website below.
Please read this story of H.M.S. Glorious, it really is interesting and raises many questions:-
https://www.hmsglorious.com/ – HMS Glorious – The cover up of Churchill’s Operation Paul
On the 8th June 1940, the British aircraft carrier HMS Glorious and her two destroyer escorts, HMS Ardent and Acasta were sunk, returning home from Norway, by the German battlecruisers; Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. 1,519 British and Maltese sailors, marines and airmen died in the Royal Navy’s worst loss of WWII.
The whys and wherefores surrounding the loss of the ships have perplexed us all for nearly eighty years. Nothing about the official account quite adds up.
Why was Glorious alone and so lightly protected?
Why didn’t she engage the one weapon capable of attacking the Germans, her aircraft?
Was Glorious’ captain both deranged and responsible?
Why has the bravery of the two destroyers and their David and Goliath battle to protect Glorious never been properly recognised.
What has the Royal Navy and successive governments been hiding for so long?
Churchill famously said – “In war-time, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies”.
https://www.historytoday.com/hms-glorious-history-controversy
When Norwegian vessels finally found them nearly three days later, only 40 remained alive. The death toll of 1,519 exceeded any of the other great British naval disasters of the war. Among the dead was Glorious’ Captain, Guy D’Oyly-Hughes, a highly decorated submariner whose First World War record was legendary.8 Jun 2015
One of the Royal Navy’s precious few large aircraft carriers had been sunk, along with two destroyers and, with the Battle of Britain in the offing, two RAF fighter squadrons. The Admiralty Board of Enquiry was held within days of the 34 available survivors returning to Britain, its findings then sealed until 2041.
Also – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Glorious and
http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/glorious.html
Traces of World War 2 – RAF Losses – the sinking of HMS Glorious – 08/06/1940 – 10/06/1940
Losses from the three British ships were 1474 officers and ratings of the Royal Navy and 59 RAF personnel.
So Albert was to be just one of 1519 crew from H.M.S. Glorious, besides the losses of the other ships.
There are different numbers of losses from different sources, but the total, whichever is correct is horrendous.
He must be remembered.
