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Hi Brian - thank you for helping with my log-in details. I really don't know where to start except to say I was hoping members to this forum may be able to point me in the right direction in tracing details of my grandfather life in the navy. My grandfather, Hugh Smith (birth name - Hugh Smith Fletely), was born in Glasgow on 4 November 1889 Glasgow, and died 1 September 1963 in Ashfield NSW, Australia. His mother, Agnes Fletely (sometimes spelt Flatley) died when Hugh was 8 and he went to live with his father Hugh Smith and his family in Glasgow. We understand he was "commissioned to the navy" aged 12 - well this is what he told my father. Since the 1901 census I've lost trace of him but he ended up in Sydney around 1910 (I cannot find any record of him coming into the country) and he seemed to change his identity to suit the occasion when he was in Sydney as he abandoned a wife in Scotland when on active service with the Australian Army during the First World War 1918 and came back to Australia and married my grandmother. Would anyone know how I can trace someone in the navy (I'm assuming the Merchant navy?) and did they actually take on children as young as 12 back then? My father said he talked a lot about his ship going to Buenos Aires? Any help would be very much appreciated. Kind regards.
Well before most on this sites time I imagine Susan. They sent small boys up chimneys so See nothing averse for 12 year olds going to sea. People forget we came a very long way in a short time as regards today’s living conditions. Hope you find help in your quest. JWS. I have dim recollections of sailing with someone out of Aberdeen with a similar soundng name as Fletely. But on the 100 to 1 chance of being a great great grandson chances are slim. I can barely remember him and not even the ship I was on. So unless you have relations in Scotland, Aberdeen area in particular would be a no goer. Think his name was spelt Flettley but could again be wrong. Regards JS. PS here racking my memory banks, was about 1978 andwas John Flettley and think he was from there or around the corner from Aberdeen where even the Aberdonians have trouble understanding. Think he was an ex fisherman and about 25 in or about 1978. Lossiemouth is the place I’m trying to remember. But there again his name may have been Flett first name John. JS.
Last edited by j.sabourn; 12th February 2018 at 11:46 AM.
Hi Susan, they did start work early in those days, My great Aunt Emily as working as a Miner down the Coal Mines at the age of 8, in the 1881 Census, My Dad started work at the age of 12 in a Cotton Mill. so even in WW2 many lads were killed on Merchant ships aged 14, Cheers Brian
I started at age 13 on deep sea trawlers in the post war years (WWII not as some would have you think WWI)
My dad , born 1914 was put into service (big private house ) as gardeners boy at the age of 13, he left after falling out with the cook (a female powerful person in those days), and joined the royal marines, kt
Originally Posted by Susan Smith Hi Brian - thank you for helping with my log-in details. he talked a lot about his ship going to Buenos Aires? Any help would be very much appreciated. Kind regards. No promises on a result but, will take a look when I return home in the morning. Keith.
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 12th February 2018 at 11:38 PM.
#1, Hi Susan, Welcome to the site, following from Ancestry [world wide] not sure exactly if this is your Hugh but will add for now and see what else I can find under Hugh Cameron Smith later. New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922 Name: Mr H Flattely Port of Departure: Wellington Port of Arrival: Sydney, New South Wales Voyage Arrival Date: 25 Jan 1910 Vessel Name: Ulimaroa 1901 Scotland Census* Not sure Susan if this is your grandfather as the birth year is out...do you know if he had any siblings for cross reference? Possibly a red herring here sorry. Will leave for the time being. Can you post the one you have please. Name: Hugh Smith Age: 10 Estimated birth year: abt 1891 Relationship: Son Father's name: Hugh Smith.... Mother's name: Agnes F Smith Gender: Male Where born: Glasgow, Lanarkshire Registration Number: 654 Registration district: Rutherglen Civil Parish: Rutherglen County: Lanarkshire Address: Jessamine Cottage Occupation: Scholar Roll: CSSCT1901_351 Household Members: Name Hugh Smith 45...[Licensed Grocer]..... Agnes F Smith 46...[Born in Ireland] Richard G Smith 28....[Oldest son and a Grocer] Hugh Smith 10 Anslow C Smith 1.....[ Born in Uddingston outskirts of the city.] Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011 Name: Hugh Cameron Smith Gender: Male Marriage Age: 49 Event Type: Marriage Birth Date: abt 1892 Marriage Date: 7 Jun 1941 Marriage Place: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Parish as it Appears: SUMMER HILL ST ANDREW Father: Hugh Smith Mother: Agnes Smith Spouse: Nelly Georgina Hodge If that is Hugh above, the birth year is out again!! and it states his mother was Agnes Cameron! And that he is a widower. Do you have the marriage cert for the Hugh's first wife? Also because his birth year is so inconsistent will print what I found re Merchant Navy from FMP: British Merchant Navy, First World War Medal Cards 1914-1925: First name(s) Hugh Last name Smith Birth year 1899 Birth place Glasgow Birth county Lanarkshire Birth country Scotland Year - Link to site Medal Card of Smith, Hugh Place of Birth: Glasgow Date of Birth: 1899 | The National Archives Source Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Index of First World War Mercantile Marine Medals and the British War Medal Archive reference BT 351/1/130948 Medal type Merchant Navy Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920 Record set Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards Category Military, armed forces & conflict Subcategory Medal rolls and honours Collections from Great Britain, Scotland
Last edited by Marian Gra; 13th February 2018 at 04:57 AM. Reason: added text
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Don't know why Marian But I cannot find any trace on the Names in ScotlandsPeople Site! ?? Wonder if there is another way of spelling the Surname ? Normally with that site with people Born in Scotland etc it comes up good!? Hope we can sort something in time to come! Cheers
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Depends what name you are using Doc he's an awful man for ringing the changes with his name and year of birth Haven't even started on his ships yet. And just to confuse the issue further there are thousands of Hugh Smiths world wide never mind the other spelling. His preference so far seems to be H.C Smith. However in S/People might be worth while searching for Hugh Fletely or Fletly especially if parents were unmarried his birth cert there would probably show where the Cameron comes in as Hugh's mother could have been married before. If ''formally'' is stated as a prefix that's usually the case ...in Scottish marriage certs anyway...or could be his grandmothers maiden name Most of my cousins on my paternal side all have my g/mother's maiden name as a middle as do I....Good luck Will have to retire now or fit for nothing later today.
Last edited by Marian Gra; 13th February 2018 at 05:23 AM. Reason: added text
Is this any of him Susan??? Just trying Below one is Born Greenock and the other Paisley ????? Are they Glasgow Suburbs ,Towns ?? Smith.jpg Smitj H C.jpg Hugh Fletely or Fletly tried all those as well but Zilch! on those!
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 13th February 2018 at 05:26 AM.
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