Opened in 1901, Grandsable Cemetery overlooks the BP Refinery at Grangemouth, one of Scotland’s few remaining heavy industrial sites. Juxtaposed against the ornate Edwardian headstones, the landscape is electrifying.
The memorial for Janet Smith and her sons may seem unremarkable at first glance, but it holds a profound significance that is easy to overlook. Thomas and Janet Smith lost four sons: one was killed in action, one died of wounds, and two died of Spanish flu. On Saturday, November 30th, the Falkirk Herald recognized this loss and expressed sympathy from the community. John died from influenza and pneumonia on October 31st in Seaford, Lewes, East Sussex, whilst recovering from ‘shell shock’ at age twenty-five. Whilst he is commemorated on the familial memorial, he rests in Seaford Cemetery. His grave is marked with an official CWGC headstone. Charles succumbed to “influenza, bronchitis and pneumonia” on November 25th at 166 Lumley Street, Grangemouth, aged eighteen.
John was born in Grangemouth on December 22nd, 1892, the fifth child and fourth son of dock labourer Thomas and Janet (nee Smith—maiden name the same as married name). Charles was born on January 23rd 1900, at 156 Lumley Street.
At the 1901 Census, the nine-person-strong Smith family still resided on 156 Lumley Street. Ten years later, the family had moved to 162 Lumley Street. John, who was nineteen years old, worked for the Caledonia Railway while eleven-year-old Charles was still in school. The Smith household had decreased by only one person, as some children had left home, but others, including the eldest, Thomas Jr., remained. Charles was no longer the youngest, as his brother Peter was born in 1902. Later, John emigrated to Canada before the First World War, settling in Winnipeg after sailing to Quebec. He married a Canadian native named Elizabeth and served in the Canadian Infantry during the war. At the time of his death, his address was 567 Arlington Street, Winnipeg. I do not know if John and Elizabeth had any children. After leaving school, Charles would secure employment as a sawmill labourer. At some point before his death, Charles and his family would relocate again to 166 Lumley Street.
On March 17th 1917, the family suffered their first war bereavement with the death of William in a bombardment at Arras whilst serving in the Gordon Highlanders. His elder brother James perished the following year on August 8th. Their younger brothers would follow shortly after.
Tragically, the loss of William, James, John and Charles was not the end of the sorrows the Smith family endured. On January 18th, Janet, aged fifty-eight, succumbed to heart failure caused by bronchitis and asthma – there is a possibility that influenza caused her death. However, this was not acknowledged by the attending physician.
In 1921, Thomas Sr, four of his surviving children, and two lodgers still resided at 166 Lumley Street. Sadly, he lost another son when Thomas Jr died of bronchitis on May 11th 1938, aged fifty-six – he is also commemorated on the family memorial in Grandsable. Thomas Sr eventually died from “senility” on September 23rd 1943, aged eighty-nine, at 166 Lumley Street. He had been widowed for over twenty-four years. Peter registered his father’s death, as he did for his eldest brother.
Sources: Ancestry, British Newspaper Archive, CWGC, ScotlandsPeople
Broken Columns 