THE KING’S CHIMNEY SWEEP By E.J.SPARROW & J. STRINGER
INTRODUCTION There is an old adage which says “ONCE A MARINE ALWAYS A MARINE�. It gets in the blood stream and stays for life. Tony Smith GC personified this. This contribution by the authors is made to honour those Royal Marines who have died for our Country on the centenary of the start of WW1. This copy is offered FREE as it is a commemorative edition not commercial. Special dispensation has been given by the Imperial War Museum in this case but their copyright still applies if used by others for commercial purposes. However you may like to remember those who fell by donating to a Service Charity
SMITH, Anthony. George Cross
Tony was born in Christchurch, Hampshire on the 3rd August 1894. He signed on with the Royal Marines Light Infantry for 12 years on the 26th August 1914, when he was just 20 years old. Prior to this, he had been working as a shoemaker in Brompton Road, London having served a 3 year apprenticeship. His service number was CH 18816 and he did his initial training at Deal. He was then sent to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the 28th February 1915
He took part in the Gallipoli Campaign serving with the Deal Battalion.. On the 28th April, the Deal Battalion. which was predominately composed of recruits, was sent ashore at ANZAC Cove to support the Australians. They were asked to hold the line for 48 hours but in fact were kept in the line for 14 days. They had little food or water and were short of ammunition but held out in the face of heavy Turkish attacks. It was during this action that L/ Cpl. W. Parker, RMLI, won his Victoria Cross. They were then moved to the European beachheads at Helles where Tony remained until he was wounded in action, being left with a scar on his chest and on his middle toe of his left foot, from injuries received on the 18th July 1915. He was shipped home on HMS Somali, a hospital ship, from Malta on the 20th August 1915 with severe Dysentery.
The Royal Naval Division charging at Gallipoli (c) IWM Tony subsequently returned to the Middle East, where he served from the 3rd December 1915 with the 1st RMLI, which had been formed from the decimated ranks of the Deal & Chatham Battalions. Thus, he would have been involved in the final withdrawal from Gallipoli. On the 8th January 1916, the troops were gradually taken off leaving camp fires burning at night to deceive the Turks into believing that the area was still held by troops. The last ones to leave were the RMLI. The War Diary for the 1st battalion RMLI for this action reads:JANUARY 1916 Gallipoli 8th ...movement, & was particularly quiet. The last parties to leave the trenches did so at 23.45. Only one casualty was sustained, a slight one. On the Beach there was the usual sporadic shelling, but nearly all fell into the water. The timetable was well kept throughout, & the last troops embarked in HMS Grasshopper shortly after 03.00 on 9th Jan. In the days immediately preceding the final evacuation some 3.400 all ranks of the Division were evacuated.
(c) Royal Marine Museum Eastney From here they went to fight in Salonika until May 1916. Tony moved with the Royal Naval Division to France, where it was renamed the 63rd (RN) Division, arriving on the 19th May 1916 on board HMT ARAGON in time to fight on the Somme. They fought through the battle of the Somme from July to November with their numbers continually depleted by shelling and patrolling. They went "over the top" in the mud at the battle of Ancre on the 13th November. The War Diary for the 1st battalion RMLI for this action reads:[Battle of the Ancre] 13th November .....Battalion. was the left of the 188th Infantry. Brigade. which attacked German trench system. It was in touch on left with 1/7 Gordon Highlanders. Following officers took part: Lt. Col. FJW CARTWRIGHT, Major VD LOXLEY killed, Capt CLE MUNTZ, wounded, Capt. H. HOARE killed, Capt. MC BROWNE DSC killed, Capt. GH Sulivan killed, Capt. JM POUND missing, Lt. FJ HANSON killed, Lt. AG KYLE wounded, Lt. C. WATKINS wounded, Lt. AC DONNE wounded, LT. E. COHEN wounded, Lt. N.B. WALKER wounded, LT. HB VAN PRAAGH, Lt. WM HODDING wounded, Lt. P. DEWAR wounded, 2/Lt. F. GOLDIE wounded, 2/Lt. E.L. PLATTS wounded, 2/Lt. CW MARTIN killed, Lt. JW RICHARDS missing, 2/Lt. HER UPHAM missing, Surgeon. FB EYKYN - wounded. The attack commenced on the opening of our barrage at 5.45am when the Battalion. advanced in 4 waves- one platoon of each company in a wave. There was a very thick mist. Every Company Commander was killed before crossing German Front Line. Enemy trenches were practically obliterated by our artillery. NO MAN'S LAND & ground between various German lines, as far as slope down to STATION Road was pitted with shell holes, deep & very muddy. Ground crossed by this Battalion was particularly muddy which made advance difficult. Within a minute of our barrage starting, enemy replied with artillery. barrage on support lines & No Man’s land, where they also opened a heavy MG fire. It is estimated that at least 50% of casualties occurred between No Man’s Land & German 1st Line. Between 2nd& 3rd Line, ground was swept with MG fire. Here also were heavy casualties. Isolated parties of this Battalion. followed the barrage as far as YELLOW LINE & got in touch with HAC on right. They were not however sufficiently strong to close gap between HAC & Battalion on left.
Remnant of this Battalion held dotted BLUE LINE during night 13/14th, in partially constructed trench W. of STATION Rd. Touch was maintained during night with 4th Gordon Highlanders on left.
Pack horses Ancre in November 1916 (c) IWM Q 65389 14th 6am Battalion. advanced & dug in to East of STATION Road. During course of day various small scattered parties rejoined. Capt. LF NOURSE & 80 reinforcements joined Battalion about 8pm. Position shelled intermittently thro' day & night. 15th Still being shelled. Battalion was withdrawn at 2pm marched to HEDAUVILLE by 6.30pm. Moved from there to PUCHVILLERS by lorries about 11.30pm. Battalion advanced 490 strong & returned 138 strong having had 47 men killed, 210 wounded & 85 missing. Of the 22 officers who took part only 2 returned - 6 being killed, 11 wounded & 3 missing. On the 17th/18th February 1917, the RMLI battalions were involved in the attacks around Miraumont. The War Diary for the 1st battalion RMLI for this action reads:[Battle of Miraumont] February 1917 17th Advance commenced at 5.45am on barrage opening. Our dispositions were, from right to left D,B,C,Companies were extended at 2 paces interval, & in two waves at 20 paces distance. The lines were subjected to heavy bombardment by 77mm at about 5am necessitating a call for retaliation by our artillery. Reports were received at 6.40am to the effect that the Battalion. had gained their objective; & that the PIMPLE had been captured. 18th 102 Prisoners were taken, 1 77mm gun & 2 MGs were captured. The enemy counter attacked on 3 occasions. On 1 occasion taking advantage of thick mist, he counter attacked,, without artillery preparation, 2 Battalions. strong on 1& ½ mile frontage. SOS message was sent, the artillery replying with great promptitude, causing many casualties. The Battalion.
on the left, turned & fled, & was almost immediately followed by the right Battalion. The line from Battalion. HQ to front line had only just been repaired when SOS was asked for. Total casualties suffered by the Battalion. in the attack, capture & consolidation of the objective SUNKEN ROAD - Officers - 7 killed, 6 wounded. ORs - 57 killed, 193 wounded, 27 missing. Tony received further injuries in the attack on the 17th February, at what was shown on his record as Grandcourt. At first, there was a danger that he would have to have his whole right hand amputated but in the end, he lost only the middle 3 fingers. He was invalided out on the 14th August 1917 and took up residence at 39 Jubilee Place, Chelsea, London.
Tony was presented with the "1914-15 Star", the "British War Medal" and the "Victory Medal" for his service, which was supplemented in the Second World War with the "George Cross" and the ".Defence Medal".
In recognition of his wounds, which he received in World War 1, he was also issued the "Silver War Badge" number 15803. The badge was worn in the lapel of civilian clothes after 1916 and was to prevent men of military age but not in uniform, being harassed by women pursuing them with white feathers.
On his discharge, he took up his old trade of cobbler and also worked in the family trade, as a chimney sweep. Post war, he also, entered into a protracted correspondence with the Authorities concerning an entitlement to a Disability Pension. This culminated in sixteen shillings (80 new pence) per week pension for life, in respect of a 40% Disability awarded in 1924. In the 1920s, there was continued upheaval in China, which had become a republic under Sun - Yat- Sen and the Royal Marines became increasingly involved in protecting foreign lives and property from rioters and various local war lords. Tony applied to rejoin the Royal Marines to go to China. An offer that was politely declined by Brigade Major Gillespie of the Chatham Division in a letter dated 26th January 1927. At the outbreak of war in 1939, Tony became a member of the Heavy Rescue Section of the Civil Defence Rescue Service at Chelsea in London.. He served with them from the 5th September 1939 until 1st July 1945. On February 23rd 1944, at World's End, Chelsea, bombs intended for the Lots Road Power Station fell on nearby streets. The hardest hit was Edith Grove, where a whole terrace of houses was demolished, the water main ruptured and the gas main set alight. It was for his actions during this raid that Tony was awarded the George Cross. The citation in the London Gazette dated 30th May 1944 reads:"During an air raid, bombs demolished a number of four-storey houses, leaving standing only the party walls, which were in a precarious condition. Gas and water mains were fractured and the gas ignited, setting fire to the buildings and wreckage, the whole of which became a raging inferno. Two floors had pancaked forming a huge pile of blazing debris but Smith burrowed a way through the burning ruins and managed to reach a casualty trapped in a front basement underneath. He released the victim, but by this time the front of the building was a solid wall of flame, the upper floors were collapsing and his escape was cut off. Carrying the casualty, Smith made his way through the flames and smoke to the rear of the house and there found a 6-inch aperture in the wreckage. He forced a way through and managed to pass the casualty to safety just as the remaining portion of the front wall collapsed into the area. Smith's eyebrows and hair were burnt and he was almost overcome by smoke but, undeterred by his ordeal, he immediately went to the assistance
of a comrade who was endeavouring to rescue a woman trapped in the basement of an adjoining building, the walls of which were in a very dangerous condition. Here, working for an hour up to his waist in water, and with walls and floors on the point of collapse, Smith helped to release her. He then obtained a change of clothing and carried on until his squad was relieved. Smith displayed outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty in conditions of the utmost danger and difficulty."
Tony (second left) meets HM Queen Elizabeth during an inspection of the Chelsea Civil Defence Services. Tony went to Buckingham Palace to receive his George Cross from King George VI. Interestingly, it was not the family's first visit to Buckingham Palace as Tony, his Father and Grandfather before him had all swept the chimneys at the Palace. For his deeds, Tony was also awarded the freedom of the Borough of Chelsea. He became a local celebrity and was invited to join the "VC & GC Association", the "Society of St. George" and perhaps the one that amused him most was that Debretts featured him. Debretts had very much been associated with the Establishment pre- war but with the listing of the GC holders, it now included not only Tony, but a hospital porter, a tailor's cutter and an engine driver as well. One event, which gave Tony great pleasure was in 1948, when he was asked to perform the opening ceremony when the flats were rebuilt, which had been the scene of his bravery.
Tony standing to the left of the Mayor In his declining years, Tony lived in Ivy Street in Chelsea just around the corner from his sister, Edna Stringer her husband and six children. The second eldest, James followed his uncle into the Royal Marines, serving in 40 Commando. At this time Tony was to be found in "his chair" as part of the family. It was his sister, who accompanied him to Buckingham Palace to receive his medal and was at his graveside when he died in 1964 at the age of 70, following a stroke. He was buried in North Sheen Cemetery. Initially his grave did not have a headstone. However eventually this was rectified and Tony was reburied at East Sheen with Full Military honours provided by the Royal Marines Association. His family, the Royal Marines and their Association, the Chelsea Borough and others arranged for a headstone for him. Tony was given a fitting send off on Saturday 22nd May 1999, with standard bearers, troops and a bugler playing "The Last Post".
His nephew, James Stringer (ex 40 Commando RM) at his grave
His gravestone shows the George Cross and the badges of the Royal Marines, the ARP and Chelsea Borough.