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Jeremiah Smith (1899-)


Boy admitted to Earl's House Industrial School who served in the army


Jeremiah Smith was born in Jarrow in 1899. His father was also called Jeremiah and was originally from Jarrow. His mother, Hannah Maria Smith was from Spennymoor. Census records show that Jeremiah had at least five siblings: one sister and four brothers. At the time of the 1901 census Jeremiah was living with his family at 260 Hugh Street, Jarrow. His father was working as a carpenter labourer working on ships.

By the time of the 1911 census Jeremiah’s mother had died. The family had moved to 249 High Street, Jarrow and Jeremiah’s father was working as a painter’s labourer at the shipyard. Jeremiah was listed as being at school, along with his younger brother Philip.

However, during the following year, records show that Jeremiah was truant from school and was sent to Earl’s House Industrial school for this reason. Earl’s House Industrial school was one of a number of schools where boys were committed by a magistrate for offences such as larceny, vagrancy or truancy. The schools also took boys who were showing behaviour which was beyond their parents’ control. The boys were taught skills including tailoring, gardening and agricultural skills to give them a trade to gain employment when they left the school. Jeremiah arrived at the school at the age of 12 on 12 December 1912 with the admission number 1047.

Jeremiah was at the school for three years and during his time there his conduct was described as very good. Records from the school show that whilst at the school Jeremiah took up music and was trained to become part of a band. This was seen at the school as an occupation with a musical training preparing boys to join army bands when they left the school.

Jeremiah was discharged from the school on 14 December 1915. It is unclear who he was living with when discharged but it is known that he was living at Ferryhill. When discharged he became a miner at Dean and Chapter colliery. He continued to work at the colliery during 1916. On two occasions during 1917 Jeremiah visited the school and records state he was “doing splendidly”.

Jeremiah enlisted into the army on 20 September 1917. He became a private, with a possible service number 24750. He served with the 3rd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders G Company based at Cromarty, Scotland. By March 1918 he had been promoted to a Lance Corporal and in July was transferred to the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry stationed at Cork. On 14 July 1918 he again visited the school and, at this time, was serving with the 9th Black watch with the service number S/27006.

School records show that in October 1918 Jeremiah had suffered a wound in his left foot and was in hospital in Portsmouth. At the age of 20, he was awarded the Silver War Badge, an award that honoured personnel that had been discharged due to wounds or illness. Records from his Silver War Badge roll card show he was awarded the badge whilst serving as a private in the Royal Hussars regiment with the service number S/27006. The reason for discharge was that “he was no longer fit to re-engage with war service”. Jeremiah was fully discharged from the army on 28 October 1919.

On the 1939 register, Jeremiah is listed as living at 99 Sandringham Road in Redcar. He is married to Winifred Smith, with records suggesting he has at least one child, Jeremiah Smith, born in 1931. The register would suggest there may have been a further child too. He is working as a corporation gully cleaner and is additionally involved in Air Raid Precaution Decontamination.

Children’s Homes.Org page on Industrial Schools:
http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/IS/

Civil Parish: Ferryhill

Birth date: 15-Dec-1899

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 260 Hugh Street, Jarrow (1901 census)
249 High Street, Jarrow (1911 census)
29 Faraday Street, Dean Bank, Ferryhill (1916 Address on discharge from school – Earl’s house register of discharge)
12 Lightfoot Terrace, Dean Bank, Ferryhill (1916 Earl’s house register of discharge)
99 Sandringham Road, Redcar (1939 Register)

Education: Earl’s House Industrial School (1912-1915)

Employment: Miner (1916 Earl’s house register of discharge)
Corporation Gulley Cleaner (1939 Register)
ARP Decontaminator (1939 Register)

Family: Parents: Jeremiah Smith, Hannah Maria Smith
Siblings: Lavina Smith, John J Smith, Francis E Smith, Philip A Smith, Bevan Andrew Smith
Spouse: Winifred Smith
Children: Jeremiah Smith (b 1931)

Military service:

Enlisted 20 September 1917
3rd battalion Seaforth Highlanders
Private
Service number 24750
Transferred to the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry
9th Black watch
Service number S/27006
Royal Hussars regiment
Private
Discharged 28 October 1919

Medal(s): Silver War Badge (Badge number B331606)

Gender: Male

Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham