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Mr Albert Edward Smith

Born 23 October 1927


Marriage

Married to Ellen Dawkins on April 16th, 1949

Navy Record

Certificate of Service

Certificate of Service (part 2)

Certificate of Service (part 3)

Poetry

Poetry

Towards the end of his life Albert wrote some poetry. One short poem is shown here; family with access can see more poems by logging in.

Rain

Water, everywhere, relentless showers from the sky,
Soaking the earth and all upon it as it falls from high.
But wait, why shouold we complain?
When we say after weeks of drought when will we get some rain?
The very existence of all life on earth, depends upon our water,
So when we moan & grumble at the rain
we really didn't oughta.

Worry

Why do we bother, why do we care,
Why do we worry outselves sick,
What good does worry do to us,
You take your pick.

Beauty

Evening shadows on the garden as the day departs,
All the beauty of the flowers folding in their hearts.
In the morning all will alter, as the sun climbs high,
Beauty once again will reign there, reflecting in the sky.

Poetry (Ill)

Nurses

Nurses - Bless them - dedicated ladies working hard for very little reward
- We really would be in trouble without them that's for sure
- Always helpful, kind and gentle but tough too when they need to be.
Give them all a great big pay rise, make their job a happier one.
Who knows, any one of us could need their help to return to the sun.

District nurses, always ready at our call
- Help you remain at home when sickly, never let you fall.
Whatever woudl we do without them?
Bless them all and keep them well
Because without their help and comfort, life would be real hell.

Poetry (Navy)

King's shilling

16 year's old -full of ideas,
But foremost the ambition to be a sailor, like big brother
- Too young? but wait! Boy's Service!
The war will go on and I will see the action - Fight the Hun and Jap!
Exams & medicals to pass, made it - The King's shilling in my hand.
Twelve years signed for, but that does not register now. It will later.

Comes the great day, February 1944.
Wake early, pack my little case.
Outside a bitter day, frost heavy ont he ground.
Look at mum and see the tears well in her eyes.
Now those carefree days are over - hard work ahead.

Slowly walk off down the road to catch the train to Portsmouth.
When will I be back again?

Fate

High up there, in the air lingers fate
- What's in store? good or poor? it's through the door,
When it opens what will come - doesn't matter, will be done!

Nagasaki

Horror - Atomic War - Approaching from the sea - 1946 - one vast sea of rubble - Nagasaki - The mind boggles, no building stands, just small heaps of debris - No sign of life or death, just one or two images burnt into the grouund.

What terror must have been there on that fateful day,
no warning, just oblivion, everything blown away.
I hope never to see the day, that nuclear war is waged -
t'would be the end of all mankind.

Poetry (Youth)

HARK

HARK: does't hear the lark?
Trilling overhead whilst lazy bones do lay in bed.
Get out you sloths and let your muddled minds,
Worship the world that God has made all thine.

Vigil

On duty tonight - firewatching. Half a crown well earned.
Only 14 but fit and able to carry out raks.
On the roof top we are mustered, drinking up our tea,
waiting for Jerry and his bombs to test our mettle.
Brilliant moonlight shouold have brought them over,
but it seems they've come in via Dover.
1 a.m. and now it's time to drill, run out the hoses,
get ont he power and douse those incendiaries.
A good test run, a record time, our team does well.
Back to our tea and silent vigil, waiting until dawn,
then home to breakfast and our porridge and another day.