Descendants of John Smith

Generation No. 1

1. JOHN¹ SMITH was born Abt. 1831. He married CATHERINE ??. She was born Abt. 1841.

Child of JOHN SMITH and CATHERINE ?? is:

2. i. JOHN² SMITH, b. 1861, Middlesbrough YKS; d. 13 September 1896, Middlesbrough YKS.

Generation No. 2

2. JOHN² SMITH (JOHN¹) was born 1861 in Middlesbrough YKS, and died 13 September 1896 in Middlesbrough YKS. He married MARY MURRAY 19 December 1882 in Middlesbrough YKS, daughter of JAMES MURRAY and HANNAH SOWERBY. She was born 1863 in Carlisle CUM, and died 12 March 1934 in Middlesbrough YKS.

More About JOHN SMITH:

Burial: 16 September 1896, Middlesbrough YKS

More About MARY MURRAY:

Baptism: 2 August 1863, Carlisle CUM

Burial: 15 March 1934, Middlesbrough YKS

More About JOHN SMITH and MARY MURRAY:

Marriage: 19 December 1882, Middlesbrough YKS

Children of JOHN SMITH and MARY MURRAY are:

i. MARY³ SMITH.

3. ii. ESTHER SMITH, b. Middlesbrough YKS; d. Middlesbrough YKS.

4. iii. THOMAS SMITH, b. 11 February 1890, Middlesbrough YKS; d. 1 July 1972, Middlesbrough Teeside.

5. iv. HANNAH SMITH, b. 12 July 1892, Middlesbrough YKS; d. 22 June 1974, North Ormesby TEESIDE.

Generation No. 3

3. ESTHER³ SMITH (JOHN², JOHN¹) was born in Middlesbrough YKS, and died in Middlesbrough YKS. She married GEORGE LARRY 8 June 1907 in St Pauls Church Middlesborough YKS. He was born 1886, and died 8 July 1916 in France.

Notes for GEORGE LARRY:

Private 317994, 2nd Bat.YKS , Killed in Action

More About GEORGE LARRY and ESTHER SMITH:

Marriage: 8 June 1907, St Pauls Church Middlesborough YKS

Children of ESTHER SMITH and GEORGE LARRY are:

i. MARY⁴ LARRY, b. 24 May 1910, Middlesborough YKS; d. 5 February 1995, St Mary, The Avenue, Middlesborough CLD; m. WILLIAM JOSIAH RICHMOND, 26 May 1931, St Pauls Church Middlesborough.

More About MARY LARRY:

Burial: 9 February 1995, Acklam Rd Cem, Middlesborough CLD

More About WILLIAM RICHMOND and MARY LARRY:

Marriage: 26 May 1931, St Pauls Church Middlesborough

ii. GEORGE LARRY, b. 7 January 1912, Middlesborough YKS; d. 5 May 1968, Middlesborough YKS; m. JESSIE ELIZABETH SHUTT, 15 April 1935, St Paul Church Middlesborough YKS.

More About GEORGE LARRY:

Baptism: St Pauls Church , Middlesborough YKS

Burial: St Cuthberth's , Marton YKS

More About GEORGE LARRY and JESSIE SHUTT:

Marriage: 15 April 1935, St Paul Church Middlesborough YKS

4. THOMAS³ SMITH (JOHN², JOHN¹) was born 11 February 1890 in Middlesbrough YKS, and died 1 July 1972 in Middlesbrough Teeside. He married GRACE NODDINGS 9 September 1916 in West Hartlepool DUR, daughter of TOM NODDINGS and JANE LYONS. She was born 19 April 1895 in West Hartlepool DUR, and died 13 December 1954 in Middlesborough YKS.

More About THOMAS SMITH:

Baptism: 23 February 1890, Middlesbrough YKS

More About GRACE NODDINGS:

Burial: Middlesborough YKS

More About THOMAS SMITH and GRACE NODDINGS:

Marriage: 9 September 1916, West Hartlepool DUR

Children of THOMAS SMITH and GRACE NODDINGS are:

6. i. OLGA⁴ SMITH, b. 10 June 1924, Middlesborough YKS; d. 14 August 1997, Eaglescliffe DUR.

ii. THOMAS NODDINGS, b. 1911, West Hartlepool DUR.

iii. JOHN SMITH, b. 1919, Middlesborough YKS; d. 13 April 1941, At Sea, H.M.S.Rajputana, Off Canada.

Notes for JOHN SMITH:

In Memory of

Able Seaman JOHN SMITH

D/JX 184919, H.M.S. Rajputana, Royal Navy

Who died age 21 on Sunday 13th April 1941

Able Seaman SMITH, Son of Thomas and Grace Smith, of Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.

Remembered with honour

PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Devon, United Kingdom

Commemorated in perpetuity by

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

In Memory of

JOHN SMITH

Able Seaman

D/JX 184919

H.M.S. Rajputana, Royal Navy

Who died on

Sunday 13th April 1941, Age 21

Citation:

Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Grace Smith, of Middlesbrough, Yorkshire

Commemorative Information

-

Cemetery: PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Devon, United Kingdom

Grave Reference/Panel Panel 48, Column 2.

Number:

Location: The Memorial is situated centrally on The Hoe which looks directly towards Plymouth Sound. It is accessible at all times.

Historical Information: After the First World War, an appropriate way had to be found of commemorating those members of the Royal Navy who had no known grave, the majority of deaths having occurred at sea where no permanent memorial could be provided. An Admiralty committee recommended that the three manning ports in Great Britain - Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth - should each have an identical memorial of unmistakable naval form, an obelisk, which would serve as a leading mark for shipping. The memorials were designed by Sir Robert Lorimer, who had already carried out a considerable amount of work for the Commission, with sculpture by Henry Poole. After the Second World War it was decided that the naval memorials should be extended to provide space for commemorating the naval dead without graves of that war, but since the three sites were dissimilar, a different architectural treatment was required for each. The architect for the Second World War extension at Plymouth was Sir Edward Maufe (who also designed the Air Force memorial at Runnymede) and the additional sculpture was by Charles Wheeler and William McMillan. In addition to commemorating seamen of the Royal Navy who sailed from Plymouth, the First World War panels also bears the names of sailors from Australia and South Africa; the governments of the other Commonwealth nations chose to commemorate their dead elsewhere, for the most part on memorials in their home ports. After the Second World War, Canada and New Zealand again chose commemoration at home, but the memorial at Plymouth commemorates sailors from all other parts of the Commonwealth. Plymouth Naval Memorial commemorates more than 7,000 sailors of the First World War and almost 16,000 from the Second World War.

H.M.S. Rajputana

Name: H.M.S. Rajputana

Type: Armed Merchant Cruiser

Tonnage: 16,444 tons (one of the largest ships sunk).

Completed:

Owner: The Admiralty

Homeport:

Date of Attack: 13 Apr, 1941

Nationality: British

Fate: Sunk by U-108 (Klaus Scholtz)

Position: 64O50'N, 27O25'W - Grid AD 5582 - (area to be added).

Complement: ? men (? Dead and ? survivors).

Convoy: HX-117

Route:

Cargo:

History:

Notes on loss:

I INTRODUCTION Rajasthan, state in north-western India, bordered on the north and north-west by Pakistan, on the north-east by Punjab state and Haryana state, on the east by Uttar Pradesh state, on the east and south-east by Madhya Pradesh state, and on the south-west by Gujarat state. Most of the present territorial shape of the state was formed between 1948 and 1950 from the former principalities of Rajputana. Rajasthan has an area of about 342,239 sq km (132,138 sq mi). The capital is Jaipur.

Rajasthan's numerous forts, palaces, temples, mosques, and tombs make the state one of India's most popular tourist destinations. The state contains many interesting Buddhist, Jain, and Mughal ruins. The Palace of the Winds in Jaipur, the Mehrangarh fort at Jodhpur, and the Lake Palace at Udaipur are among the highlights.

II POPULATION

The state has a population (1991) of 44,005,990. Hindus make up about 85 per cent of the population, which also includes minorities of Muslims, Jains, and tribespeople. Muslims make up the largest minority. Jainism was often tolerated by rulers as it was particularly popular with merchants and traders. Islam extended into Rajasthan with the conquest of Ajmer in the 12th century. The saint Kharwajah Mu'in-ud-Din Chisti had his refuge at Ajmer, which is now a popular pilgrimage place. Sikhs and Christians form small minorities. Rajasthani and Hindi are the principal languages.

Indigenous tribes, while absorbing and assimilating some of the ways and manners of successive invaders, managed to preserve some of their distinct culture, though they are slowly being absorbed into the mainstream of Indian life. Today, tribal peoples comprise over 12 per cent of the state's population, nearly double the national average. The tribes share common traits, but it is the differences in their costumes and jewellery, their gods, fairs, and festivals that set them apart from one another.

III ECONOMY

Rajasthan is one of the poorest states in India. The two fifths of Rajasthan lying to the south-west of the Amavali Range generally contains its more fertile soils. The north-western three fifths is mainly sandy and unproductive with little water resources. It is mainly pastoral and agricultural: millet, wheat, maize, and cotton are grown here although drought is a problem. Cotton mills and cement works are located in the state along with various agricultural industries. Handicrafts are an important industry. Rajasthan has rich mineral deposits. Output includes gypsum, rock phosphate, lead, zinc, silver, emeralds, asbestos, copper, and salt. Tourism makes a large contribution to the regional economy.

IV GOVERNMENT

The state's palaces, many of then now converted to hotels, maintain the memory of princely India. The influence of some of Rajasthan's royal families on the politics of the state since 1947 has been very strong. Since the 1980s the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been the two main party rivals contending for power and office in the state. Rajasthan has 25 seats in the Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament). In 1984 the Congress captured over half the vote and won every seat. In the 1989 elections there was a resurgence of support for the BJP, which continued in the 1991 elections. Reports suggested that a key to the success of the BJP was its campaigning on the issue of demolishing a mosque and building a temple on the supposed site of Rama's birthplace at Ayodhya-the Ram Janmabhoomi issue. Reports of the revival of suttee (the act of self-immolation on a husband's funeral pyre) in the state in the early 1990s aroused widespread controversy. At the early 1998 general election the Congress and its allies won 18 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats being contested, the BJP and its allies 5, with the 2 other seats going to minority parties.

V HISTORY

Rajasthan's many princely states, forts, and palaces-set in the often bleakly inhospitable environment of the Thar Desert-conjure up images of medieval India. Shortages of rainwater have kept the region dry and poor while its relative inaccessibility has made it a destination for refugees. Its name means "the land of the rajas". It was also called Rajputana (the country of the Rajputs), whose codes of chivalry shaped social mores just as their often bitter and protracted feuding dominated their politics.

Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of human habitation along the River Banas in present-day Rajasthan going back 100,000 years, while rock inscriptions reveal that the great emperor Ashoka held sway over this region in the 2nd century BC. Indeed this land has been much exposed to invaders. The Mauryas in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC were succeeded by the Bactrian Greeks (2nd century BC), the Shakas or Scythians (2nd to 4th centuries AD), the Guptas (4th to 6th centuries), and the Huns (6th century). Rajput dynasties rose from the 7th to the 11th centuries and until the end of the 12th century control of northern India was in their hands.

The Rajputs claimed to be the original Kshatriyas (warriors) of the ancient varna (caste) system. They were probably descended from the Huns and Scythians. They modelled themselves on Rama, the hero of the epic Ramayana, seeing themselves as protectors of the Hindi dharma (moral and religious duty) against invaders. The Brahmins were at pains to give them royal lineages and accorded them Kshatriya status.

Gradually, over centuries, a feudal system and self-sufficient economy grew up. Distinctly martial in character, these led to the rise of the Rajput clan system. Rather than engage in costly campaigns to crush the Rajputs the great Mughal emperor Akbar sought conciliation, inviting them to assist in the running of his empire. Many Rajput princes were given high office in return for loyalty. Akbar sealed this important strategic alliance by marrying a Rajput princess.

Before independence in 1947, the state comprised 18 princely states, 2 chieftainships, and the small provinces of Ajmer and Hardwar, which the British administered. After independence these princely states were gradually absorbed into the provinces and states of the Indian Union. Rajasthan assumed its present name and form on November 1, 1956.

Convoy Information

Code: HX

Route: Halifax/New York - UK

Area: North Atlantic

Notes: From September 1939 to September 1942 from Halifax, then to May 1945 from New York. From July 1940 entry via North Channel, from October 1944 south of Ireland again. HX-129 was the first convoy escorted the entire Convoy route.

Convoy Battles

Ships hit from convoy HX-117

9 Apr, 1941 U-98 Robert Gysae Prins Willem II Holland

13 Apr, 1941 U-108 Klaus Scholtz HMS Rajputana British

2 ships sunk for a total of 17,748 tons from convoy HX-117

Denmark Strait

U-108

Type IXB

Ordered 24 May, 1938

Laid down 27 Dec, 1939

Launched 15 Jul, 1940

Commissioned 22 Oct, 1940

Commanders 22 Oct, 1940 - 14 Oct, 1942 KrvKpt. Klaus Scholtz (Knights Cross) Oct, 1942 - Oct, 1942 Erich Hilsenitz15 Oct, 1942 - 16 Oct, 1943 KrvKpt. Ralf-Reimer Wolfram17 Oct, 1943 - 11 Apr, 1944 Oblt. Matthias Brunig

Career 11 patrols(476 days) 22 Oct, 1940 - 31 Jan, 1941 2. Flotilla (training)1 Feb, 1941 - 31 Aug, 1943 2. Flotilla (front boat)1 Sep, 1943 - 11 Apr, 1944 8. Flotilla (training)

Successes 26 ships sunk for a total of 135,166 tons

Fate Sunk 11 Apr, 1944 at Stettin, by bombs; raised; taken out of service at Stettin 17 Jul, 1944; scuttled there 24 Apr 1945.

Wolfpack operations

U-108 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:

Rochen (22 Jan, 1943 - 10 Feb, 1943)

Meise (20 Apr, 1943 - 27 Apr, 1943)

Specht (27 Apr, 1943 - 4 May, 1943)

On 10 Feb, 1943, while on the outward journey to the Caribbean, U-108

Was damaged by a British Catalina aircraft (Sqdn/N) and was forced to

Return, reaching Lorient on 24 Feb. She only managed to set out again

On 1 April.

Menlost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to

Accidents and various other causes, U-108 did not suffer casualties (we

Know of) until the time of her loss.

Ships hit by U-108

Date Commander Name of ship Tonnage Nat Convoy

22 Feb, 1941 Klaus Scholtz Texelstroom 1,617 Nl

28 Feb, 1941 Klaus Scholtz Effna 6,461 br

13 Apr, 1941 Klaus Scholtz HMS Rajputana 16,444 br HX-117

2 Jun, 1941 Klaus Scholtz Michael E. 7,628 br

8 Jun, 1941 Klaus Scholtz Baron Nairn 3,164 br

8 Jun, 1941 Klaus Scholtz Dirphys 4,240 gr

10 Jun, 1941 Klaus Scholtz Christian Krohg 1,992 nw OB-329

25 Jun, 1941 Klaus Scholtz Ellinico 3,059 gr

25 Jun, 1941 Klaus Scholtz Nicolas Pateras 4,362 gr OB-336

1 Jul, 1941 Klaus Scholtz Toronto City 2,486 br

14 Dec, 1941 Klaus Scholtz Cassequel 4,751 pt

19 Dec, 1941 Klaus Scholtz Ruckinge 2,869 br HG-76

8 Feb, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Ocean Venture 7,174 br

9 Feb, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Tolosa 1,974 nw

12 Feb, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Blink 2,701 nw

16 Feb, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Ramapo 2,968 pa

18 Feb, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Somme 5,265 br

25 Apr, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Modesta 3,849 br

29 Apr, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Mobiloil 9,925 am

5 May, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Afoundria 5,010 am

6 May, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Abgara 4,422 le

20 May, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Norland 8,134 nw ON-93

3 Aug, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Tricula 6,221 br

7 Aug, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Brenas 2,687 nw

17 Aug, 1942 Klaus Scholtz Louisiana 8,587 am

19 Apr, 1943 Ralf-Reimar Wolfram Robert Gray 7,176 am HX-234

Patrols by U-108

Commander Departure Arrival

1. Klaus Scholtz 15 Feb, 1941 Wilhelmshaven 12 Mar, 1941 Lorient Patrol

2. Klaus Scholtz 3 Apr, 1941 Lorient 2 May, 1941 Lorient Patrol

3. Klaus Scholtz 25 May, 1941 Lorient 7 Jul, 1941 Lorient Patrol

4. Klaus Scholtz 19 Aug, 1941 Lorient 21 Oct, 1941 Lorient Patrol

5. Klaus Scholtz 9 Dec, 1941 Lorient 25 Dec, 1941 Lorient Patrol

6. Klaus Scholtz 8 Jan, 1942 Lorient 4 Mar, 1942 Lorient Patrol

7. Klaus Scholtz 30 Mar, 1942 Lorient 1 Jun, 1942 Lorient Patrol

8. Klaus Scholtz 13 Jul, 1942 Lorient 10 Sep, 1942 Lorient Patrol

9. Ralf-Reimar Wolfram 25 Oct, 1942 Lorient 26 Nov, 1942 Lorient Patrol

10. Ralf-Reimar Wolfram 20 Jan, 1943 Lorient 24 Feb, 1943 Lorient Patrol

11. Ralf-Reimar Wolfram 1 Apr, 1943 Lorient 16 May, 1943 Stettin Patrol

U-boat types

Type IXB

14 boats commissioned

Construction history of this type

Boats Shipyard Werk # Built During

U-64 - U-65 2 AG Weser, Bremen 952 - 953 1937 - 1940

U-103 - U-110 8 AG Weser, Bremen 966 - 973 1938 - 1940

U-111 AG Weser, Bremen 976 1939 - 1940

U-122 - U-124 3 AG Weser, Bremen 954 - 956 1937 - 1940

Type IXB was an improved version of type IX with increased range of 1500

Nautical miles and slightly heavier. The designed was improved again in the

IXC type.

This type was the most successful overall with each boat averaging over 100,000

tons of sinking. They had 23 torpedoes stored which gave a determined U-boat

commander a serious striking power which could be used night after night against

the same convoy, as was often the case.

Perhaps the most famous IXB boat was the U-123 under the command of Kptlt.

Hardegen which opened up the attack in the US waters in early 1942 known as

Operation Drumbeat. U-107, under the command of Hessler, made the most

successful convoy mission of the war over with close to 100,000 tons sunk out of

Freetown, Africa.

Technical information for type IXB

Displacement: 1051 (sf) Speed: 18,2 (sf)

(tons) 1178 (sm) (knots) 7,3 (sm)

1430 (total)

Range: 12000/10 (sf)

Length: (m) 76,50 oa (miles/knots) 64/4 (sm)

58,75 ph

Torpedoes: 22

Beam: (m) 6,76 oa 4/2 (bow/stern tubes)

4,40 ph Mines: 44 TMA

Draught: (draft) 4,70 m Deck gun: 105/45

110 rounds

Height: 9,60 m Crew: 48-56 men

Power: (hp) 4400 (sf) Max depth: ca. 230 m

1000 (sm) (755 feet)

sm = submerged, sf = surfaced, ph = pressure hull, oa = overall, hp = horsepower.

Top U-boat Aces

Klaus Scholtz

Fregattenkapitan (Crew 1927)

Sank 25 ships for a total of 127,990 tons