David James Smith was born in Orford, Suffolk, England, on the 8th April 1856, the son of James and Clarinda Hannah Smith (née Whayman). His father was a shoemaker and the family home was at Market Hill, Orford, Suffolk. He was one of eleven known children in the family.
By the time he was aged 15 years, in 1871, he had completed his education and was employed as a grocer’s porter. Nothing further is known about him until 1911, but it appears that he had been married and widowed, and unlikely to have had living children.
By 1911, he was a valet to Elliott Torrance Galt, a Canadian banker and businessman, and was living in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He made frequent trips to England with his employer until 1914.
He had returned from England with his employer in December 1914, and in the spring of 1915, he had decided to return to England. Whether this was for a holiday, or whether his employment had been terminated is unknown.
He travelled to New York City, where just after noon on the 1st May, he sailed from New York on the Lusitania as a second cabin passenger on the liner’s last ever voyage to Liverpool.
Six days later, on the afternoon of 7th May, he was killed after the liner had been torpedoed, by the German submarine U-20, just twelve miles away from the coast of southern Ireland and just hours away from her final destination.
Immediately after the sinking, The Cunard Steam Ship Company in Queenstown received a cable asking them to communicate with lawyers Messrs. Bartlett and Gregory of 6, New Square, Lincoln’s Inn, London, should David Smith’s body be recovered and identified. This was followed by a letter which further stated: -
Would be wearing lady’s fob watch engraved “Helen” to which would be attached lady’s chain or a round corded chain with gold filterings. Also wore belt round waist used for placing money in etc., Believed to have about £40 in dollars notes on him.
It is possible that “Helen” was the forename of his late wife.
His body never was found and identified, however, and as a result, he has no known grave. He was aged 59 years.
On 23rd August 1915, administration of his estate was granted at London, to George
Albert Hawkes, who was an air mechanic and his effects amounted to £920-12-2d., (£920.61p.). Mr. Hawkes was married to a niece of David Smith.
His address at the time of his death was given as 17, Longbridge Road, Barking, Essex, which might have been the address of a relative, and was the address he used when in England.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, England & Wales Christening Records 1530 – 1906, 1861 Census of England & Wales, 1871 Census of England & Wales, 1911 Census of Canada, Canadian Passenger Lists 1865 – 1935, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, Probate Records, PRO BT 100/345, UniLiv D92/2/227, UniLiv D92/2/317 (photo), 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.