George Smith was born in Buckie, Banffshire, Scotland, on the 24th October 1881, the son of John and Margaret Smith (née Main). His father was a bootmaker and George was the eldest of nine known children in the family.
He became a ship’s carpenter and in 1904, he immigrated to Canada where he found work in Okanagan, and later Vancouver in British Columbia. By 1915, he was residing at 308. Cordova Street, Vancouver.
In the spring of 1915, he decided to return to Scotland and make his contribution to the war effort by working in shipbuilding there. Sometime towards the end of April, he left Vancouver and travelled by rail to New York City, where he boarded the Lusitania as a third class passenger at Pier 54 in New York harbour on Saturday, 1st May, in time for her scheduled 10am departure. The liner’s departure for Liverpool was actually delayed until the early afternoon, so that she could take on board passengers, cargo and crew from the Anchor Liner Cameronia, which had been requisitioned by the British Admiralty for war work as a troop ship at the end of April.
Six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, the Lusitania was torpedoed twelve miles off the coast of southern Ireland by the German submarine U-20, and sank just eighteen minutes later. At that stage of her voyage, she was only 250 miles from the safety of her home port. George Smith was fortunate to be counted amongst the survivors, and having been rescued from the sea, was safely landed at Queenstown. He was aged 33 years.
From Queenstown, he eventually made his way to his home to Buckie, Banffshire, where he gave an interview to a newspaper reporter which was published in the 25th May edition of the Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties Advertiser: -
“Describing his adventures, he remarked: - “Just as the vessel seemed to settle after the first attack – the cry had gone round that all was right – she gave another lurch, and the next thing I knew was that I was in the water.
“When I came to the surface I espied a large box full of biscuit tins floating in the water, and this I caught hold of. Shortly afterwards I noticed a submerged boat with a canvas cover on the top of it, the oars being underneath, and I cast off from the box, and clambered on to the top of the boat, which was a collapsible one. I sat there feeling a bit all right, and gradually one by one five other men got on to the boat. We cut the canvas
cover off with a view to baling out the water, but to our dismay there was a large hole in the stern. Nevertheless, we got the oars in position, and started to row about.
Piteous Cries of Drowning.
“The danger of the small craft sinking altogether was very great, and it was a decided relief, therefore, when we saw, about 30 feet distant, another upturned collapsible boat. We rowed to the boat, and having got possession of it, fixed it to the stern of our small craft. Several of us manned the new-found boat, and not a minute too soon, for all around poor creatures were to be seen struggling in the grip of death, their cries for help being piteous and heart-rending.
“Women were in the majority, and whenever opportunity offered we gave a hand. In the course of half an hour we had taken 22 passengers on board, and I can assure you they were a thankful band. In their joy at being rescued they were exuberant, and one of the party – he was a steward, I think – so far forgot the ordeal through which he had passed that he took out a camera which he had with him and “snapped” us.”
Although there are reports by a number of survivors, of seeing people taking photographs while the liner was sinking, and George Smith stating that he say a crew member taking a photograph in one of the collapsible boats, none of these photographs were ever published or are known to have existed, and it is likely that if any person did take photographs, sea water got into the cameras and destroyed the film.
On the 25th January 1917, George Smith married Margaret Helen Wiseman in Buckie, and their only child, a daughter named Ann, was born in April 1918. The couple resided with Margaret’s widowed mother at 4. Aboyne Street, Buckie.
In September 1921, George returned to Canada, and found work with the Canadian Pacific Railways shipyard in Nelson, British Columbia. In 1922, his wife and daughter joined him, and they were to live the remainder of their lives in Nelson.
On his return to Canada, he submitted a claim for $354.00 with the Canadian Commission for the loss of his carpenter’s tools, clothing and personal effects in the sinking of the Lusitania. In April 1926, the Commission awarded him the full amount of his claim.
They resided at 716. 3rd Street, Nelson, for many years, and it was here that George Smith died on the 1st March 1966, having suffered from chronic myocarditis for a number of years. He was buried in Nelson Memorial Park, Nelson, British Columbia.
British Columbia Canada Death Index 1872 – 1990, 1891 Census of Scotland, 1901 Census of Scotland, 1911 Census of Canada, Canada Ocean Arrivals 1919 – 1924, Cunard Records, Canadian Claims Case No. 828, Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties Advertiser, Vancouver Daily World, PRO BT 100/345, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.