Smith, Gerald Alexander

August 1st, 2007 by JCB
Posted in Obituaries | No Comments »

GERALD WILLIAM ALEXANDER SMITH

It is with sadness that I report the death of Gerald Smith, on Tuesday, 24 April. He died at home after a short illness.

Born in 1932 in Soham, Cambridgeshire, Gerald spent his early years in Edinburgh, and then moved to Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset as a young boy. He began his sea career on the Worcester (1947-1949). He went on to become a merchant seaman, sailing with Clan Line, joining his first ship, the Clan Maclay, at Vittoria Dock in Birkenhead on 22 August 1949 and set sail on 24^th bound for Cape Town. He met the love of his life, Una, when home on leave, and they were married in 1955.

This was followed by a stint as a Harbour Pilot in Aden (1960 – 1965), where he was joined by Una and their year old son. Those 5 years were happy and exciting times for the family, until the political situation drove them back home

to England. In 1965, Gerald began work at Gravesend as a River Pilot on the Thames for Trinity House (and subsequently the PLA) until he retired in 1988.

Gerald and Una remained very much in love until her untimely death in 1995, and his memories of her were his constant companion for his remaining 12 years.

Throughout his life, Gerald was an avid historian, especially concerning all matters military and nautical. A great wealth of knowledge has died with him. He leaves a much loved son and daughter in law and two beautiful grand daughters and will be greatly missed.”

I enclose a couple of photographs of my father when he was young, handsome and debonair. It would be nice to include one if possible. I leave it to you which you use, depending upon which reproduces best.

I believe that my wife mentioned I have found a number of diaries amongst my father’s papers, including a Letts School-boys Diary, which was from his last year on the Worcester. I have not had time yet, but I do intend to transcribe the diary, which I think is a priceless record of a way of life long faded into history.

I would be pleased to send an article with extracts once I have transcribed them, which might provide an interesting and amusing article for The Pilot. Perhaps you would let me know if you would be interested.

Magazine obituary with photo:  Summer issue 2007 p12