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Record #3880

Name :: : Joseph Henry SMITH (1895 - 1963)
Father: :
Mother: :

BMD and other details

Date of Birth: : 1895 (approx.)
Marriage (1): :
Marriage (2): :
Date of Death: : 1963

Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland

Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial

Sailing Information

Date of Arrival: : 10 Jun 1903
Country: : Canada
Ship: : Siberian
Placement Family: :

Homes / Agencys

Institution (GB): :
Agency: : Middlemore

NotesIn 1903, Joseph Smith, 7, arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, along with a group of 124 Middlemore children.

On September 24, 1914, Joseph Henry Smith, 18, enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces (1st Div. Ammunition Column, Canadian Expeditionary Force). He declared that he was born in London, England; that he had no next of kin; that he was born January 1, 1896; and that he was a laborer. He was described as 5 foot 5 inches in height; fair complexion; blue eyes; fair hair. He was a member of the Church of England. He had distinguishing marks of 3 vaccination marks on his left arm and a scar on the right side of his chin. He served in Canada, England and France. He was discharged by reason of Demobilization on March 31, 1919.

His daughter, Marilyn J. (Smith) Hall wrote about him (Source: Pier 21 - Canada's Immigration Museum, {website}pier21.ca/research/collections/the-story-collection/online-story-collection/british-home-children/)

I have been able to determine that my father landed as a Home child in 1903 at Pier 21. He died in 1963 never knowing he entered through Pier 21. I only found out this information a few months ago. My father eventually was sent to Anegance N.B. and lived there until he joined the Canadian Army in 1914. He served and fought overseas until the end of the war in 1918.

Dad married and had two daughters. We lived and went to school in Halifax. I eventually married and had five children. My Dad worked for many years in the lumber business. As children back in the 1930's, my sister and I, along with Mom and Dad, boarded different ships that were tied up in Halifax. I remember we would be sitting having a meal with the Captain and "Stewart" always brought us our meals and treats. It was many years before I found out his name really wasn't "Stewart".

The word Home child did not exist in our home. Dad knew nothing of his background before coming to Canada. Nobody spoke much about those things. One thing I do know is that a little boy was born in England and for some unknown reason to me was sent from his family to the Middlemore Home in Birmingham and then put on a ship and sent to Canada. He grew up to be a fine gentleman and a wonderful Father and Grandfather.

As long as I live I will always remember the great man he turned out to be. On Remembrance Day, November 11, 1992 I penned the following:

I Remember My Dad.
He never did complain, nor gory details reveal,
But I was old enough to know he kept his wounds concealed.

I Remember.
On parade he wore his black cap with the red chevron on it -
That signified the FIRST WORLD WAR. He came home from it!
My Dad marched from the Halifax Common, then along the parade route,
Somewhere along the way he gave a salute.

Not many left now from World War One, they're all leaving us one by one.
So many went over never to return.
Take time to remember them and their job well done.

I Remember.
Then it was World War II. Soldiers marching to the ships.
They sailed to far away shores. They wore shiny boots and knapsack kits.

I Remember.
All those ships anchored in Bedford Basin;
The convoys that sailed when called to hasten.

I Remember those men and women so dear
Who left us at home while they fought over there
They fought for our freedom, they fought for world peace.
PLEASE don't allow your memory of them to cease!

I Remember.

"Thank You" Grandmother

I never knew my grandmother,
the mother of my dad -
but neither did he know her;
I find that so very sad.

I know dad had a mother,
the fact is, the lady bore a son;
if there were other siblings
alas, I know not one.

My dad was a "Home Child",
sent away from England's shores -
aboard the steamship "Siberian"
off to Canada's open doors.

My dad fought for Canada
during the years of World War One -
after which, his life took a different course,
he met and married my mom.

So today I thank my grandmother
the one I wish I knew -
if it wasn't for that lady
I couldn't write about my dad for you

ContributorsCreated : 2008-07-13 12:20:25 / From original database

Last Updated : 2009-02-01 14:03:31 /

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Surnames starting with: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 30 Entries

Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 343 Entries

ID	Name	DOB	Place of birth	Arrivals & Ships	Dest.	Agency	Family links
5126	ABBOTT, Emily	1886	ENG,	May 1898 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
3011	ABBOTT, Frederick	1896	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Jun 1906 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
3012	ABBOTT, George	1893	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Jun 1906 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
3058	ABBOTT, Herbert William	1893	ENG, WAR, Aston, Erdington	Jun 1906 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
3164	ADAM, Allan Devrix	1885	SCT, , Govanhill, Glasgow	Apr 1897 : Siberian	CAN	Quarriers
3175	ADAM, William Butter	1884	SCT, , Govanhill, Glasgow	Apr 1897 : Siberian	CAN	Quarriers
7357	ADDISON, Hugh	1876	SCT, , Jamestown	Apr 1887 : Siberian	CAN	Quarriers
10057	ADIE, Henry	1896	ENG, WAR, Aston	Jun 1906 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
10056	ADIE, Mary	1895	ENG,	Jun 1906 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
17060	ALLEN, Edward	1887	ENG,	Jun 1899 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore	hlomiller
3860	ALLEN, Florence Elizabeth	1891	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Jun 1902 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
3804	AMES, Frank	1894	ENG, WOR, Redditch	Jun 1906 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
3805	AMES, Henry	1896	ENG, WOR, Redditch	Jun 1906 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
3803	AMES, Lizzie	1893	ENG, WOR, Redditch	Jun 1906 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
3806	AMES, Sarah	1890	ENG, WOR, Redditch	Jun 1906 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
17073	ANSCOM, John	1891	ENG,	Jun 1902 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
3699	ANSON, John	1889	ENG,	Jun 1902 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
3698	ANSON, Kate	1887	ENG, STS, Stoke on Trent	Jun 1902 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
11066	ASTLEY, Emma	1891	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Jun 1903 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
11065	ASTLEY, Rosina	1887	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Jun 1903 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
2880	AUSTIN, Frederick George	1883	ENG, WAR, Aston, Birmingham	Jun 1894 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
2881	AUSTIN, James	1879	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Jun 1894 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
17100	BAGGALLAY, Arthur Rodney	1884	ENG,	Jun 1900 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
16771	BAGLEY, Annie Dorothy	1894	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Jun 1903 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
16774	BAGLEY, Leonard	1899	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Jun 1903 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
16772	BAGLEY, Richard Charles	1889	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Jun 1903 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
16773	BAGLEY, Walter Ambrose	1892	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Jun 1903 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
16770	BAGLEY, William Henry	1896	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Jun 1903 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
17273	BAILEY, Thomas	1889	ENG,	Jun 1899 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
3696	BALL, George Alfred	1891	ENG, NTH, Northampton	Jun 1906 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
ID	Name	DOB	Place of birth	Arrivals & Ships	Dest.	Agency	Family links

Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 343 Entries

Surnames starting with: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 30 Entries

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