Thomas Eustace Smith (1831-1903) built the Anglican Church of St. Mary's in North Gosforth, which is now the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, and a schoolhouse which was (just) standing in 2010.
Ralph Eustace Smith was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne on August 28th 1889.
His father, Eustace Smith, and mother, Ellen Gertrude (née Hawkes), married around 1888.
Eustace Smith was the son of Thomas Eustace Smith (1861-1902), JP, barrister, Liberal politicion and wealthy managing director of Smith's Dock on Tyneside. This company eventually became the Swan Hunter shipyard. The family had a home in London, Gosforth House in Newcastle and the Manor House at Whalton. Thomas' father was William Smith of Benton, a ropemaker.
His father, Eustace Smith, and mother, Ellen Gertrude (née Hawkes), married around 1888.
Eustace Smith was the son of Thomas Eustace Smith (1861-1902), JP, barrister, Liberal politicion and wealthy managing director of Smith's Dock on Tyneside. This company eventually became the Swan Hunter shipyard. The family had a home in London, Gosforth House in Newcastle and the Manor House at Whalton. Thomas' father was William Smith of Benton, a ropemaker.
Ralph Eustace Smith is one of the names on the Heddon War memorial, a casualty of the Great War. This blog is to give some details of his life and circumstances of his death.
 Sacred Heart RC Church. Photo by Weston Beggard (2005). |  School House, North Gosforth. Photo by Peter Maddison (2010). |
The Engineer 20th June 1902.
There is further information about Thomas and William Smith of Guildhall and St Lawrence, Newcastle-on-Tyne, the rope making part of T. and W. Smith, on the Grace's Guide website.
Transcript of 1891 Census - 9 Ellison Place, Newcastle.
The 1891 Census shows Ralph and his older brother Philip living at 9 Ellison Place in Newcastle, a street of fine town-houses. His father describes himself as 'wire ropemaker'.
Ellison Place, Newcastle. Photo A Curtis (2010).
Ralph Eustace Smith aged 5, portrait minature by Mrs Janet A. Boyd. Sold at auction by Bonhams (2011).
Ralph was educated at Remenham, Henley-on-Thames, and at Marlborough College.
Wisden on the Great War: The Lives of Cricket's Fallen 1914-1918 edited by Andrew Renshaw (2014) informs us that Ralph Eustace Smith played for the Edinburgh Academy XI in 1899 and 1900.
Ralph enlisted a year later than Philip, going to France with the Regiment in 1914. He became a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps, the precursor to the R.A.F., and was killed in action in 1918.
Several members of the Eustace-Smith family had notable records of service with the Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry.
Ralph's elder brother, Philip, joined the Regiment in 1913 and travelled abroad with them in 1914. For his part in the War, Lt. Col. Philip Eustace-Smith was awarded the Military Cross and the Croix de Guerre. Philip married Eleanor Clayton in 1912, lived at Rothley Crag and died in 1935.
Two other brothers, Capt. Gerard Eustace-Smith was Adjutant in the Hussars from 1924-26 and Lt. Col. Sir Thomas Eustace-Smith (1900-1971) later commanded the Regiment. He was a shipbuilding expert and chairman of Smith's Dock Company.
Ralph's elder brother, Philip, joined the Regiment in 1913 and travelled abroad with them in 1914. For his part in the War, Lt. Col. Philip Eustace-Smith was awarded the Military Cross and the Croix de Guerre. Philip married Eleanor Clayton in 1912, lived at Rothley Crag and died in 1935.
Two other brothers, Capt. Gerard Eustace-Smith was Adjutant in the Hussars from 1924-26 and Lt. Col. Sir Thomas Eustace-Smith (1900-1971) later commanded the Regiment. He was a shipbuilding expert and chairman of Smith's Dock Company.
Wedding of Philip Eustace-Smith to Eleanor Clayton. Morpeth Herald, 25 October 1912.
Philip Eustace Smith married Eleanor Clayton at Cambo Church in 1912, followed by a reception at Rothley Hall.
In the previous year, the 1911 Census shows Ralph Eustace Smith (age 21) was a visitor at Rothley Crag Hall, his occupation given as 'rope maker'. He was a guest of Florence Octavia Clayton (nee Cadogan, b.1862), widow of John Bertram Clayton of Chesters (1792-1890), and her two daughters, Eleanor (24) and Diana (20).
The Clayton family had owned substantial property in Heddon, which is the likely reason for the inclusion of Ralph's name on the village war memorial. The property was sold to James Knott in 1918.
In the previous year, the 1911 Census shows Ralph Eustace Smith (age 21) was a visitor at Rothley Crag Hall, his occupation given as 'rope maker'. He was a guest of Florence Octavia Clayton (nee Cadogan, b.1862), widow of John Bertram Clayton of Chesters (1792-1890), and her two daughters, Eleanor (24) and Diana (20).
The Clayton family had owned substantial property in Heddon, which is the likely reason for the inclusion of Ralph's name on the village war memorial. The property was sold to James Knott in 1918.
Lieu. Ralph Eustace-Smith.
Lieutenant Ralph Eustace Smith, Northumberland Hussars (attached Royal Flying Corps, as it was then named), was the second son of the late Eustace Smith, Esq., of Benton House, Newcastle-on-Tyne, the first chairman of Smith’s Dock Company, Ltd. He was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne on August 28th, 1889, educated at Remenham, Henley-on-Thames, and at Marlborough College, and married, on April 28th, 1914, Florence Muriel, daughter of Edward Joicey, Esq., of Blenkinsopp, Northumberland. He was a director of T. & W. Smith, Ltd., and of Smith’s Dock Company, Ltd. On the outbreak of war he received a commission in a battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, was later transferred to the Northumberland Hussars, with whom he served in France. In the autumn of 1917 he became attached to the Royal Flying Corps and was killed whilst flying on the Flanders front on the night of April 18th-19th, 1918. A Memorial Service was held at Whalton Church, Northumberland, on the anniversary of his death, when an organ screen, erected to his memory by his mother, was unveiled. Amongst the large congregation present on that occasion were most of the directors and principal officials of Smith’s Dock Company, Ltd.
Smith’s Dock News, Vol.1, no.1. June 1919, pp.11-12.
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Wedding of Ralph Eustace-Smith to Florence Joicey at Greenhead. Newcastle Journal, Wednesday 29 April 1914.
Ralph and Florence had two children. A daughter was born on 3rd October 1917 at Eachwick Hall.
Ralph Eustace Smith was serving with 101 Squadron as an 'Army Observer', having joined them in December 1917. It was then operating as a night bomber squadron formed in the preceding July, working under the 22 (Army) wing,
based at Famechon.
On 23rd April 1918, he was flying in a FE2b aircraft (number A6408FE2b) with Captain J A Middleton (who was injured). It a new machine with a total flying time of only 11 hrs 20 mins but crashed in acton at Dommartin around 23.50 and was later shelled and unsalvable. Ralph was 28 years old.
based at Famechon.
On 23rd April 1918, he was flying in a FE2b aircraft (number A6408FE2b) with Captain J A Middleton (who was injured). It a new machine with a total flying time of only 11 hrs 20 mins but crashed in acton at Dommartin around 23.50 and was later shelled and unsalvable. Ralph was 28 years old.
Originally arriving at the front in January 1916, the FE2b, manufactured by the British Royal Aircraft Factory, helped to win air superiority in the first Battle of the Somme. An improved motor increased its lifespan, but it was hopelessly outclassed by the close of the year and finally withdrawn from daylight operations early in 1917, being re-issued later that year as a night-bomber.
The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 23 April 1918.
He is buried at Longueau British Cemetery in France. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission providing the following information:
Cemetery: Longueau British Cemetery
Country: France
Area: Somme
Rank: Captain
Official Number:
Unit: Royal Air Force and Northumberland Hussars.
Force: Royal Air Force
Nationality: British
Details:
18th April 1918. Age 28. Son of Eustace Smith and Gertrude Hawks his wife; husband of Florence Muriel Smith (nee Joicey) of Blenkinsopp Hall Haltwhistle Northumberland.
IV. B. 2.
The headstone bears the inscription:
He sought for valour and found the glory of God.
Details of the memorial screen in St.Mary Magdalene Church, Whalton can be found on the website of the North East War Memorials Project.
He sought for valour and found the glory of God.
Details of the memorial screen in St.Mary Magdalene Church, Whalton can be found on the website of the North East War Memorials Project.
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