From the Royal
Army Chaplains Department's Collection
He was born
at Dorking in Norfolk on 8th. January 1845. He served as a missionary
in South Africa from 1870. He earned a reputation as being a hard
working man.
His part in
the defence of Rorke's Drift
won him the praise of several in their reports. He played a supportive
role in the defence, but is not generally recognised as one of the
main characters who took part in the defence. After the battle,
he was regularly referred to as "Ammunition Smith".
After South
Africa he spent time as Chaplain in many theatres of war including
Tel-el-Kabir in Egypt, the battle against the Dervishes in the Sudan
and during the Nile expedition in Egypt.
He later served
in many posts in England, finally retiring and staying in the Sumner's
Hotel in Preston, where he died on 26/27th. November 1918 from bronchial
trouble which had afflicted him for six months. After a small military
ceremony, he was buried in the Church of England plot in New Hall
Lane cemetery in Preston, Lancashire.
On entering
the graveyard gates, take the road to the right. Go round a circular
building and follow the bend to the left. At the second small path
on the right, turn right. 20 yards along at the apex of the next
junction on the left is the grave. A light colour red marble headstone
with an apex top. Red flowers were in front when I was there.
