Fred

Frederick (Fred) James Smith

(24 October 1890 - 1 August 1961)

Fred Smith
Photo by Tesla Studio, Heretaunga, Hastings
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Frederick James Smith was born in Ashurst, in 1890 and was known as Fred. His parents were English immigrants to New Zealand, Thomas George Smith (1851 - Dec 1919) and his second wife Jane Simmons (c16 Nov 1851 - 9 Jan 1917). Fred was the youngest child in the family. He had one full brother and ten step-siblings. Six of them came from his mother's first marriage to George Gardner (9 May 1856 - 24 Dec 1886):

• Mary Elizabeth Jane Gardner (1878 - 1961) 
• Francis (Frank) William  Gardner (1879 - 1943)  
• Clara Lorr.aine Gardner (1880 -  6 Aug 1920)
• Alice Maud Gardner (11 June 1883 - May 1950) 
• Emily Annie Gardner (Jan 1884 - 19 Feb 1972)
• Mabel Gardner (1885 - 31 Aug 1968)

Fred was the younger of two sons born to Thomas and Jane Smith:

• Thomas Edward Smith (1889 - 20 January 1917) 
• Frederick (Fred) James Smith (24 October 1890 - 1 August 1961) 

Fred was also the step-brother of the four children born to Thomas Smith and his first wife, Bridget Callighan (1844 - 10 Jan 1920):

• Thomas Smith (9 June 1871 - 1873)
• Henry Smith (1877 - 4 Sep 1959)
• James Patrick Smith (11 Jan 1879 - 30 Dec 1932)
• Mary Smith (1884 - 1935)

Around 1890 Thomas Snr moved the family to Ormondville where he worked as a shoe maker and repairer. He advertised his business in The Bush Advocate from at least May 1892 until July 1893. By this time, Fred's youngest siblings, Alice, Emily, Mabel and Thomas were attending the Ormondville School. His oldest siblings had probably finished their schooling by this time. The girls would have been helping their mother with domestic duties at home while Frank may have helped his step-father at the shop. A measles epidemic during 1893 may have affected the children.

Scandal
Unbeknownst to Fred or his siblings, their mother had received a strange letter from the Dead Letter Office addressed to 'Mrs Thomas Smith, Oamaru' and sent from Thomas Smith in Ormondville. Jane had opened the letter and read it. To her horror she discovered that her husband had another wife and family in the South Island. For whatever reason, Jane decided not to tell a soul about the contents of the letter. However, shortly afterwards, Thomas Snr disappeared without warning.

In September 1893 Thomas Snr was arrested for failing to comply with a court order to support his first wife and children and as a result his bigamist activities came to light. They were reported publicly, in The Bush Advocate, Volume XI, Issue 831, 14 September 1893:







The court case was reported on 23 September 1893. At his trial, Thomas Snr pleaded guilty to bigamy and was sentenced to two years hard labour at the Napier Prison (New Zealand's oldest prison). The Bush Advocate, Volume XI, Issue 835, published on 23 September reported the following facts from the trial:








The New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9312, 22 September 1893 reported the case succinctly, as follows:







It is not clear what happened to Jane and the children after Thomas Snr was sent to prison. We believe she moved back to Waipawa at the end of 1893 as four of her children (Alice, Emily, Mabel and Thomas), completed the school year at Ormondville. We also know that she continued to use the surname Smith because Fred named 'Mrs T Smith' his next of kin when he enlisted for war. It appears that although Thomas Snr returned to his first wife, Bridget, after he was released from prison, he kept in touch with his youngest sons, and for a time, lived in Waipawa.

Jane Gardner with four of her children, outside of her home.

Photo by W Billows. Date c1890s.

(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Family weddings
Fred would have attended several family weddings in the early 1900s. Firstly, his sister Clara married George Henry Arrow (Oct 1879 - 29 Mar 1926) in Waipawa in 1904. Later that year, on 8 December, his sister Mary married William Matthew Hazlehurst (12 Nov 1874 - 13 Mar 1943) in Christchurch.

On 18 July 1906 Fred's brother Frank married Ellen (Nellie) Burke (dates unknown) in Waipawa. The following year, on 4 December 1907 his sister Alice married Robert (Rob) Charles Cobb (20 Oct 1870 - 20 Dec 1949) in Waipawa. The wedding photo below shows Jane Smith with most of her children:

The wedding of Robert (Bob) Cobb and Alice M Gardner. Waipawa, 1907.

Back row: George Arrow, Mary Hazelhurst (nee Gardner), Robert (Bob) Cobb,

Alice Cobb (nee Gardner), Mabel Gardner, Thomas Smith Jnr, Emily Gardner

Front row: Clara Arrow (nee Gardner) with daughter Joyce Arrow,

Jane Smith (nee Simmons), and sitting on the ground is Fred Smith.

Photo taken by Mrs Cobb.

(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

In 1909 Fred's sister Emily married John (Jack) Barnes (? - 7 Aug 1964).


The War Years
On 11 November 1915, Fred's  sister, Mabel, was married (possibly in Waipukurau). She married Scotsman, James (Jim) Preacher (14 July 1883 - 5 Oct 1918) who worked as a carpenter. The wedding would have been a simple affair since it was wartime.

25 year old Fred was working as a shepherd in Patagata, Hawke's Bay, when he enlisted for war on 6 March 1916. As a Private with the 14th Reinforcements Wellington Infantry Battalion, B Company, Fred departed from Wellington on 26 June 1916 on the troopship 'Maunganui' bound for Devonport, England. Enroute to England, Fred committed an unspecified offence which resulted in him forfeiting a day's pay and being fined 4 shillings. The website, The British Army indicates that soldiers could be fined a days pay for small scale misdemeanors such as being unshaven, untidy, late, or for failing to salute an officer correctly.

Fred Smith c1916
Photo by Mrs Cobb
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Fred marched into Sling Camp on 23 August 1916. then was marched on to France on 14 September. On 1 October, Fred was with the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment in the field.

Family Losses
Fred lost his mother on 9 January 1917. She died in Waipawa, aged 60. The family buried her in the Waipawa Cemetery with her first husband, George Gardner.

Less than two weeks after his mother's death, Fred's brother, Thomas (28), tragically died in Palmerston North Hospital as the result of a motorcycle accident. Thomas' death notice was printed in the Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13604, 22 January 1917:




Thomas was buried at the Terrence End Cemetery, Palmerston North, Block 9, Plot 33.

At the Front Line

A sickly Fred was sent to the No. 1 New Zealand Field Ambulance on 26 April 1917 but recovered, and was able to rejoin his battalion two weeks later, on 8 May.

Unfortunately, on 4 June, Fred received severe gunshot wounds to his left had, left thigh, and the mastoid region of his skull. He was initially treated by the No. 77 Field Ambulance before being admitted to the 83rd General Hospital in Boulogne, France, where he was classified 'dangerously ill'. A week later, Fred was sent back to England on the British hospital ship, St Andrew, and was admitted to the 2nd New Zealand General Hospital in Walton.

News of Fred's serious injuries were cabled to his father, Thomas, who was living in Waipawa at the time. This information reached him almost one week after Fred initially sustained his injuries. 

On 2 August 1917, Fred was classified as being unfit for service and boarded the hospital ship, Maheno at Avonmouth, to return to New Zealand.

Below is a letter written by Fred's maternal aunt, Annie Smith (nee Simmons), who wrote to him from England after he was injured, inviting him to stay with her at her home. It seems that Fred had already boarded the hospital ship to return to New Zealand, so the letter reached him too late.

 

Fred was discharged from military service on 15 January 1918 with his record citing that he was physically unfit for war service due to the injuries he received in action. He had served for a total of 1 year, 87 days overseas, and 228 days in New Zealand.

These military certificates are currently being held by Fred's grandson:

Fred's military discharge certificate
Photo by K Bland 2015

Fred's certificate of military service
Photo by K Bland 2015

Fred Smith.
Photo by Tesla Studios, Heretaunga Street, Hastings.
Date unknown but around 1919.

Fred was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service during World War 1. 

Once Fred had sufficiently recovered and was able to work again, he gained employment as a shepherd and oxen driver at Blackhead Station, which was a large sheep farm situated on the east coast hills, south of Napier. While working there, he met his future parents, William Walker (1 Jan 1871 - 6 July 1928) and his wife Hannah Dunn (1864 - 31 May 1935). They had three children, and it was their second daughter Doris that caught Fred's eye! 

Fred married Doris Ethel Walker (1899 - 31 August 1988) on 7 July 1919 in the St Matthew's Church, Hastings. The official witnesses to the marriage were William Walker (Doris' father) & Graham McCormack.

Fred (second from right) and Doris (seated) on their wedding day, 7 July 1919.
The others in the picture are unknown but possibly Doris' siblings, and Fred's father.
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Doris was born in Baildon, Yorkshire. She had an older sister, Elsie Walker (1896 - ?) and a younger brother Albert E C Walker (1903 - 3 May 1967). The Walker family immigrated to New Zealand from Baildon, Yorkshire, sometime after 1911 (the family are recorded on the 1911 UK Census). 

Fred and Doris had three children:

• Arthur Smith (dates unknown)
• Dorothy Joan Smith (dates unknown) who was known as Joan.
• Margaret Smith (dates unknown)

Fred's father, Thomas Smith (67), died on Friday 12 December 1919. He was buried in a family plot in the Oamaru Cemetery, Catholic Section, Block 156, Plots 61-64.

Fred and Doris Smith lived in Patongata during the early years of their marriage. Their son Arthur was born there. The Smiths continued to live in Patongata until Arthur was about five years old when they moved into Hastings so he could attend school. Fred got a job working for the City Council doing maintenance jobs like gardening and cleaning gutters.

The 1928 Electoral Roll shows that the Smith family resided at 1009 Beattie Street, Hastings.

The Smith's home, 1009 Beattie Street, Hastings. Date unknown
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

On 6 July 1928 Doris' father, William Walker, died. He was buried at the Hastings Cemetery, Block D, Plot 530. Seven years later, on 31 May 1935, Doris' mother, Hannah Walker, died. She was buried with her husband at the Hastings Cemetery.

Joan & Margaret, Fred's daughters. December 1949.
(Photo courtesy of  G J Bland)

Fred, Doris, Freda (a family friend), and daughter Margaret Smith (later Cross).
c1950
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)

Fred died on 1 August 1961. He was buried at the Hastings Cemetery, Block S, Plot 656. Doris passed away on 31 August 1988 aged 89. She was buried with her husband. 

The children of Fred and Doris Smith
Fred and Doris were the parents of three children:

• Arthur Smith (dates unknown)
• Dorothy Joan Smith (dates unknown) who was known as Joan.
• Margaret Smith (dates unknown)
• Married name was Cross

Sources of Information
Archway Archives New Zealand - Frederick J Smith's military files
Family records and photos courtesy of G J Bland
Hastings District Council: Cemetery Search
They Served: James Preacher
They Served: Frederick J Smith
Ancestry.com
Papers Past




Supplementary Notes

• The 1911 UK Census records Doris Smith's family:
• William Walker (42) groom gardener
• Hannah Walker (47)
• Elsie (15)
• Doris (12)
• Albert E C Walker (8)
• An Elsie Walker (possibly Doris Smith's sister) died around 6 Aug 1983, aged 87, and was buried in Hastings.
• The 1963 NZ Electoral Roll shows that Albert Edward C Walker (garage attendant) lived in Hastings. 
• Albert Edward C Walker died on 3 May 1967 aged 64. He was buried at the Hastings Cemetary, Block S, Plot 1617. His wife, Hazel Frances Munro Walker (1914 - 12 Jan 1962) was also buried there. She died aged 48. (Albert and Hazel had a daughter, Frances.)