Frederick John Smith, CB, VD

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Rank	Brevet Colonel
Medals	None awarded for First World War
Regiment	Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 8th Battalion
Military Service	FJ Smith was a very keen part time soldier and spent almost 30 years in the volunteer movement. He was commissioned into the 4th Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers as Lieut on 14th March 1885 while still only 18 years old. In 1887 the 4th Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers became the 4th Volunteer Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). In 1908 with the conversion of the Volunteers into the Territorials the battalion was renumbered 8th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (TF). During this time Smith was steadily promoted until he reached the rank of Lieut Colonel and took command of the battalion in 1901. He was appointed Honorary Colonel in 1905 and retired in 1913. Smith is included in the Glasgow Necropolis First World War Roll of Honour as it was expected he would take command of the newly raised 17th (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce) Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry in 1914 had his health not precluded him from doing so.
Born	31st May 1866, Glasgow
Death	3rd June 1915
Circumstances of Death	Died suddenly at home after a period of poor health.
Age	49
Burial	Glasgow Necropolis 5th June 1915 Smith was given a military funeral attended by many fellow officers connected to the Volunteer and Territorial movements. The coffin, on a gun carriage, was escorted by detachments of several battalions of the Cameronians and of the HLI and accompanied by pipers. The mourners were led by his 7 year old son Kenneth and his brother Arthur.
CWGC Information	Not on CWGC database
Parents	James Smith (1819-1888) & Jane Dott (1829-1904)
Father's Occupation	Stockbroker, partner in James Watson & Smith
Siblings	Ann L M (b. 1851, d. in infancy), Ann L (1852-1923 [Mrs Schmalz], James (1854-1931), John (1856-1863), Mary Jane (1858-1914), Margaret M (1860-1887) [Mrs Newlands], Helen D (1862-1949), Agnes E (1864-1866), Arthur Henry (1871-1922)
Spouse	Mabel Cory (c1871-1962) mar 12th October 1892, London. In January 1894 it was widely reported in newspapers that Mabel Cory of Cardiff had instituted proceedings at the Court of Session to have her marriage to FJ Smith annulled. In May 1894 she abandoned her action and at some point after that returned to live with her husband. May M (1900-1901), Ian F C (1902- 1978), James M (1903-1906), Mabel V C (c1905-), Kenneth C C (c1908-), Audrey L C (1911-)
Education	Fettes College, left 1884
Occupation	Stockbroker, partner in James Watson & Smith
1871 Census	7 Park Circus, Glasgow
1881 Census	Fettes College, Carrington House
1891 Census	Park Terrace, Glasgow
1901 Census	Abbotsville Villa, Monkton, Ayrshire
1911 Census	Fairfield House, Monkton, Ayrshire
Home Address	1915 – Fairfield House, Monkton, Ayrshire
Glasgow Necropolis	Compartment Zeta Lair 191
Other Information	Col Smith’s medals were offered for sale at a price of £1150 (www.aberdeenmedals.com/shop.php accessed March 2015)
Acknowledgements and Sources	Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below. The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Ancestry, and Find my past. Commonwealth War Graves Commission Family Search Scotlands People The Long, Long Trail The Scottish War Memorials Project

Gallery

Frederick John Smith - Zeta - Monument

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Credits

Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.

A Registered Scottish Charity: No SC037918
Photographers: Ruth Johnston, Scott Kerr, David Hanlon, John Gair