BORN HULL 06/05/1898. SON OF CLARENCE EDWARD SMITH (1871-1947) & CHARLOTTE MARY SERGEANT (1867-1902), OF 33 CHESTNUT AVENUE, QUEENS ROAD. HE HAD SEVEN BROTHERS AND TWO SISTERS. ENLISTED IN THE ROYAL NAVY, ON 26/08/1913. DIED AT GALLIPOLI, ON THE DREADNAUGHT, HMS “GOLIATH”, ON 13/05/1915, AGED 17. HIS ADDRESS, DEATH AND PHOTOGRAPH WERE PRINTED IN THE HULL TIMES ON 5TH JUNE 1915.
HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, KENT, UK.
HMS GOLIATH; Royal Navy 1st class battleship; built in 1900 at the Navy´s Chatham Dockyard; 12,950 tons; 418x74x26.5 ft.; 13,500 i.h.p.; 18.4 knots; triple expansion engine; 4 x 12″ guns, 12 6″, 9 x 12 pdr., 6 x 3 pdr., 2 m.g., 4 T.T. HMS Goliath (Capt. T. L. Shelford) tried (but failed) to destroy the German light cruiser Konigsberg during the East African coast blockading. Ordered to the Dardanelles to join the 1st Squadron of the Mediterranean Fleet in April. HMS Goliath and HMS Cornwallis were ordered to support the French general in command at Kereves Dere and on 12th May 1915, they anchored in Morto Bay. The Turkish destroyer Muavenet-i-Milliye (Lt. Cdr. Firle) went for a torpedo attack, as conditions were ideal (dark and misty night). At about 1.15 on the morning of the 13th, Muavenet-i-Milliye was discovered by Goliath, but it was too late, as three torpedoes were already discharged. All three hit the Goliath, one at the fore turret, the second at the foremost funnel and a third at the after turret. As the battleship sank very quickly, many of the crew below deck had no time to escape. Of the complement of 750, about 570, including Capt. Shelford, were drowned. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?133457
