Albert Robert Smith was born in Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, in 1880, the son of Lawrence John and Alice Smith (née Loveday). His father was a commercial traveller, later a furniture dealer, and the family home was at Beaumont Rise, Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Albert was third youngest of nine known children in the family
On completing his education, he went to London where he became a dealer in pictures and fine art. Then, in 1910, he travelled to New York City, in the United States of America, having secured the position as New York agent and picture salesman for the London fine art dealers, Messrs. Ackerman & Son.
In 1912, he returned to Great Britain where he married Gladys Elizabeth Robert, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Robert, of 176, Cathay Terrace, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales. Miss Robert had been working as a nurse in a Liverpool hospital up until this time and it possible that this is where Albert Smith met her.
Not long after the wedding, he returned with his bride to New York City, where a daughter, named Dorothy, was born to the couple in August 1914.
By the spring of 1915, however, Gladys Smith had become unwell and was advised to return home to South Wales by her medical practitioner. As a consequence, Albert Smith booked second cabin passage from New York to Liverpool on the Lusitania for them all and they joined the liner at her berth at Pier 54 there, before she slipped her moorings for the last time, just after mid-day, on 1st May 1915.
Six days later, when the ship was lost, the family was wiped out. All three were killed and as none of their bodies were ever found afterwards, none has a known grave. Albert Smith was aged 35 years.
On 27th May 1915, Cunard’s Chicago office received a letter concerning the family which they copied and sent to Queenstown on 7th June 1915. It stated: -
If bodies identified communicate with Mr. Edward Roberts (sic) 176 Cathays (sic) Terrace, Cardiff Glam. (who is father of Mrs. Smith) relative of the passengers Mr. Westmacott of Montague, Mich who made enquiry
Prior to sailing on the Lusitania, Albert and his wife had vacated the apartment they had been renting at Brandt Place, Bronx, New York City, and put their furniture into storage, thus indicating that they intended remaining in the United Kingdom for a considerable period. Following their deaths, as neither Albert of Gladys had made wills, a Court in New York City had their possessions sold at auction and the proceeds, as well as a number of insurance policies that Albert had taken out, were later distributed amongst Alfred’s surviving siblings and one of his nephews.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1881 Census of England & Wales, 1891 Census of England & Wales, 1901 Census of England & Wales, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, New York U.S. Wills and Probate Records 1659 – 1999, Western Mail, PRO BT 100/345, UniLiv. PR13/6, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.