Saving Private Smith
Ex-PH2 sent us a link from Stars & Stripes which reports the story of the six Smith brothers, sons of a chimney sweep in Barnard Castle in the north of England, who went off to war “for King & Country” during the First World War. Five of those brothers were killed in combat and the Queen Mary ordered Wilfred, the sixth son home.
So Wilfred went home to Barnard Castle — though little is known about exactly how that came about. He suffered the lingering respiratory effects of a mustard gas attack and newspaper reports suggested he was temporarily blinded. But once home, he worked as a chimney sweep and a stone mason.
At the Bowes Museum, a memorial was erected to residents who fell in the Great War, including Wilfred’s brothers. His mother laid the first wreath at its dedication in 1923 — chosen by the war veterans for the honor. Wilfred was at her side.
[…]
Wilfred Smith lived until 1972, when he died at age 74. He was a frequent visitor to the monument at the Bowes Museum that bears his brothers’ names.
But, you should read the whole story.
Category: Historical
Very interesting story…it calls to mind of a similar story of the Sullivan Brothers. Per Wiki~ The Sullivan brothers were five siblings who were all killed in action during or shortly after the sinking of the light cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52), the vessel on which they all served, around November 13, 1942, in World War II. The Sullivans, natives of Waterloo, Iowa, were the sons of Thomas (1883-1965) and Alleta Sullivan (1895-1972). They were: George Thomas Sullivan, 27 (born December 14, 1914), Gunner’s Mate Second Class (George had been previously discharged in May 1941 as Gunner’s Mate Third Class.) Francis “Frank” Henry Sullivan, 26 (born February 18, 1916), Coxswain (Frank had been previously discharged in May 1941 as Seaman First Class.) Joseph “Joe” Eugene Sullivan, 24 (born August 28, 1918), Seaman Second Class Madison “Matt” Abel Sullivan, 23 (born November 8, 1919), Seaman Second Class Albert “Al” Leo Sullivan, 20 (born July 8, 1922), Seaman Second Class Wartime poster featuring the Sullivan brothers The Sullivans enlisted in the US Navy on January 3, 1942 with the stipulation that they serve together. The Navy had a policy of separating siblings, but this was not strictly enforced. George and Frank had served in the Navy before, but their brothers had not. All five were assigned to the light cruiser USS Juneau. The Juneau participated in a number of naval engagements during the months-long Guadalcanal Campaign beginning in August 1942. Early in the morning of November 13, 1942, during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, the Juneau was struck by a Japanese torpedo and forced to withdraw. Later that day, as it was leaving the Solomon Islands’ area for the Allied rear-area base at Espiritu Santo with other surviving US warships from battle, the Juneau was struck again, this time by a torpedo from Japanese submarine I-26. The torpedo likely hit the thinly armored cruiser at or near the ammunition magazines and the ship exploded and quickly sank. Captain Gilbert C. Hoover, commanding officer of the USS Helena and senior officer present in the battle-damaged US task force, was skeptical that anyone had survived… Read more »
Thanks to all for this story. Very moving.
I’m sure they are together again in Valhalla.