Id of Devonshire Regt colour-sergeant

[davidbohl]

In this cutting the chap of interest has a father "who was for a long period the colour-sergeant" of the 5th Devons.

Is it possible to put a name to him please?

thanks

Dave

[The Inspector]

Hi Dave,

Is this him???

Hubert L Smith born 1884 Chagford, Devon, ( Hubert Leslie Smith b.1st qtr 1884, Okehampton, Devon, 5b,396.) 1901 census boarding at 6 St Leonard's Av,Exeter. Occupation shown as Public School Teacher. 

Capt. Hubert Leslie Smith, d. 24.3.18 SDGW has him as Herbert. Kings Liverpool . Widow Bertha Hilda Frances Clark/Smith. He married a Bertha Hilda Frances Rogulski on 6.8.1914 St.Peter Brockley, Lewisham. Occupation a teacher.Hubert's father shown as George a schoolmaster....looking

George Smith b.1860 Drewsteignton, Devon 1911 census an Elementary School Teacher in the parish of Chagford. Married Josephine Jennett Dash 1861-1939. 2.1.1883, Ryde, IOW, Hants. 2 daughters and another son Harold Aubrey. b.2.10.1887 d.1969 Liverpool. 1939 reg. Captain retired Kings L'pool Left arm amputated.

Regards Barry

Edited 28 July , 2020 by The Inspector

[davidbohl]

That's spot on Barry for Hubert/Herbert, but I was wondering about his dad being a colour-sergeant,  any time period for this ?

thanks, Dave

[HarryBrook]

In the 1891 census at Tavistock House, Chagford was recorded Herbert L. Smith age given as 7 years (assume this should have read Hubert L.?) son of George Smith, 31, schoolmaster, born Drewsteignton, Devon; mother, Josephine, 30, schoolmistress, born Ryde, Isle of White.

 

In the 1901 census there was no Hubert L. Smith (or Herbert L.) in the household, as Barry posts above.   

 

No military record found for George Smith.

[The Inspector]

Hi Dave,

Searching on the internet came up with a reference to the "Jack goes to War-  Dartmoor Trust" but the page could not be found "typed in "Chagford, Devon regt, colour sgt George Smith"..  "5th Battalion."."and ex Colour Sgt. G. Smith also spoke".....appears in the reference.

Regards Barry

Edited 28 July , 2020 by The Inspector

[PRC]

Just a thought, but given the timescales referenced for the son in the newspaper article, isn't it likely that the father was a Colour Sergeant in a Volunteer Battalion, rather than a Territorial Force one. If he was 31 at the time of 1891 Census, he would have been 48 by the time the TF came into being. Any surviving paperwork would most likely be held either at a Regimental Museum or a County Archive.

 

Cheers,

Peter

[HarryBrook]

On his retirement as headmaster of Chagford School, after 45 years, George Smith gave a long account of his career in an interview with The Western Times newspaper on 19 October 1934, page 8. This is the link on findmypast (also available on BNA) https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000265%2f19341019%2f075&stringtohighlight=george smith chagford 

 

In the interview he mentions his two sons, officers in the Liverpool Regt. in the Great War. His own military career was given in this paragraph. 

 

 

 

 

[The Inspector]

Hi All

Nice one Harry, I think that puts this one to bed.

Regards Barry

[davidbohl]

That's a biography and a half, well done Harry.

Capt H.L.Smith is remembered at Royal Hospital School https://www.academia.edu/34126443/Royal_Hospital_School_pupils_and_the_First_World_War

Another cutting from the BNA

 

Dave