Flight Sergeant Thomas Smith, a founding member of the Royal Air Force

By John D Ellis

Per ardua ad astra (“Through adversity to the stars”)

The presence of Black service-personnel in the Royal Air Force during the First and Second World Wars has been explored by Mark Johnson and Kandace Chimbri.^[1]Johnson, M. “Caribbean Volunteers at War: The forgotten story of the RAF’s ‘Tuskegee Airmen’”. (Pen & Sword Aviation, 2021). Chimbri, KN. “The Story of Britain’s Black Airmen”. … Continue reading The contribution of these volunteers being brought into renewed focus in May 2023 with the funeral of former Flight Sergeant Peter Brown (1926-2023) a Jamaican veteran of the Second World War.

According to Roger Lambo, prior to 1939 ‘men of colour’ who applied to join the Royal Air Force would have been turned away due to the ‘Air Force (Constitution) Act (1917)’ which restricted entry to men of ‘pure European descent’.^[2]Lambo, R. “Achtung! The Black Prince: West Africans in the Royal Air Force, 1939-46” in Killingray, D (ed.) “Africans in Britain”. (Frank Cass & Co. Ltd, 1996). pp. 145-163. Although, and as Roger Lambo points out “somewhat contradictorily”, Section 95(2) of the same Act did allow the voluntary enlistment “of any British protectorate and any negro, or person of colour”.^[3]Ibid. Whilst serving, such individuals were to have all the privileges of a natural-born British citizen. However, according to Section 95(1) they were not to be promoted above the rank of Non-Commissioned Officer or Warrant Officer,^[4]Ibid. these two ranks being the highest an enlisted individual can achieve in the RAF (as of 2023).

One ‘person of colour’, Thomas Smith of Barnstaple, was able to circumvent these obstacles because he transferred into the RAF on the very day it was founded, the 1^st of April 1918. He was also able to overcome any potential opposition to him being promoted because he was already serving as a Petty Officer in the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and so immediately became a Sergeant in the new service.^[5]The National Archives (TNA) ADM 188/399/226353. TNA AIR 79/2724.

Barnstaple

Thomas Smith was born in Barnstaple, North Devon on the 30^th of October 1886 (some records suggest it was 1888). He was one of three sons to Moses Robert Smith and Fanny, nee’ Gibbins (also rendered as Fannie Gibbons and Gibbings), who had married in the parish church at Great Torrington in June 1883.^[6]Devon Marriages and Banns. South West Heritage Trust. 4014A/PR/1/23. findmypast.co.uk

The father of Moses Smith was identified as Josiah Baseden Smith, a “Minister in the Presbyterian Church, US America”. The birthplace of Moses is uncertain, with both South America and Savannah (a city in the state of Georgia, USA), c.1859 being given. However, his father’s occupation suggests that the USA was more likely.

Fanny, born in Bideford c.1865, was one of seven children to William and Elizabeth Gibbins. The former being a Mussel Gatherer working in Barnstaple, who had been born in North Tawton c.1833, the latter being born in Barnstaple c.1832.^[8]1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census. Bodens Row, Barnstaple, Devon. RG 10/2183/64/19/101. NB

Moses, described as a “coloured man”, was a street trader (a hawker) who sold fish in Barnstaple. Fanny was a Fish Hawker by occupation prior to marriage and Moses assumed the same occupation when they married. Between 1886 and his death in 1917, the various activities of Moses Smith were detailed by reporters of the North Devon Journal and can be found in the newspaper archive of findmypast.co.uk He was convicted of ‘petty offences’ mostly linked to his occupation (hawkers frequently clashed both with each other and the police), although some incidents involved alcohol and violence. As such, he was incarcerated in Barnstaple Gaol on more than one occasion.^[9]TNA HO140/175 and HO140/199.

In defence of Moses Smith, and to dispel the misapprehension that Black British history is defined by criminality, nearly every reference to him by the North Devon Journal mentioned his ethnicity. So, to suggest that Moses Smith lived a life of criminality would be erroneous. He was known to box at the local fair and regularly attended the fixtures of Barnstaple Rugby Football Club. On several occasions, when before the Justice of the Peace, he spoke eloquently about the rights of street traders. In September 1899, he was praised by the Police for the assistance he gave them investigating thefts from stalls at a fair. In May 1901 he gave evidence as the witness to an assault at the Bear Inn public-house. In January 1905 he was commended by both the Magistrate and Chief Constable for assisting in the prosecution of two men for the theft of a pair of boots (although one of the pair was a rival fish hawker, so there may have been an element of self-interest). Moses Smith was quick to defend his civil rights when he thought they were threatened. From the North Devon Journal, 5^th October 1911:

The vote of Moses Smith, a coloured man, had stood over for inquiries. The Assistant Overseer (Mr CH Cockram) said Smith had resided at Barnstaple thirty years, had been on the list twenty years, and had not been objected to previously. Smith understood from the late Mr CS Willshire that he had been naturalised. Mr Foster, objecting, said it was a matter of common knowledge that Smith was not naturalised. Mr Foulkes: I have been here twelve years, and I do not know it. The Barrister allowed the vote to remain, and remarked to Mr Forster that perhaps next year he would call someone to prove what he now said was correct.

Interestingly, the onus seemed to have been placed on disproving Moses Smith’s claim to have been ‘naturalised’ and his right to vote. This reveals that he had the support of a community willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. In defence of Mr Foster, a search of naturalisation certificate records has not revealed any reference to Moses Smith of Barnstaple being ‘naturalised’.^[11]British Naturalisations 1844-1990 on findmypast.co.uk

It is clear from reports in the North Devon Journal that Moses Smith was the victim of racism on occasion: In November 1901, a fellow hawker referred to him as “a black monkey and a black _____”, to which Moses and Fanny responded with obscene and abusive language. In February 1906 he had to be rescued by the Police after being pursued into the Liberal Club by strangers to Barnstaple. In April 1907, he was called “a black dog”, to which Fanny Smith responded that she “did not marry a black dog” she had “married a man”.

Moses Smith was not the only person ‘of colour’ residing in Barnstaple. Between 1861 and 1902, John Mears, who had been born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India and was referred to as both “a man of colour” and more specifically “a mulatto” resided in the town with his family. He was also a Fish Hawker by occupation, but no newspaper report has been identified which names both Moses Smith and John Mears. (See the Appendix).

The Smith Family

Moses and Fanny Smith had three sons, all born in Barnstaple: John born c.1885. Thomas born c.1886 (or c.1888). Josia (Josiah or Joseph), born c.1887. John and Thomas Smith also featured in the North Devon Journal, although no reference was made to their ethnicity. In April 1904, Thomas Smith was involved in a fight after leaving the Lion Tap public house. In October 1905 both Moses Smith and John Smith were charged with disorderly conduct following a fight between the pair, with the North Devon Journal revealing that they had been estranged for five years. In May 1911 Moses Smith was assaulted and Thomas Smith then took revenge by attacking both the sister and the father of the man who assaulted his father. Until this time, the incidents involving Moses Smith and his family had been within the environs of Barnstaple and dealt with locally.

However, in May 1911, the involvement of Thomas Smith was complicated by the fact that he was serving as a rating in the Royal Navy, having enlisted for ‘Boy service’ in June 1903 (with his adult service commencing in October 1904). On enlistment (service number 226353) he was 5 feet 4 and ½” tall (eventually growing to 5 feet 6”, but 5 feet 8” was also noted) with dark hair, brown eyes, a “coloured” complexion and was a Mason’s Labourer by occupation.^[12]TNA ADM 188/399/226353. TNA AIR 79/2724. From the North Devon Journal of 25^th May 1911:

The defendant, who is an able seaman of HMS New Zealand, Portland, in a letter to the Bench, said “I acknowledge having assaulted these two persons, and wish to express my heartfelt regret at having done so. I plead in extenuation that I was very excited with the election and had been drinking. I wish to be excused from appearing and if found guilty and a fine is inflicted, the fine will be paid by my father”. Commander R Pearce, of HMS New Zealand, also wrote: “I am able to give Smith a very good character, and he is in all other respects a very good man. Smith has been in the ship under me for twenty-one months. He will not be allowed out until I hear from you that the case has been dealt with”. Moses Smith, who said he was present at the time of the alleged offences, wished to give evidence. John Taylor, however, declared that Moses Smith was not there; and the Bench did not think Smith’s evidence would help the case. For the unprovoked assault on Mrs Cluett, they fined Thomas Smith 30s and costs, and for assaulting John Taylor 10s and costs. The doctor’s and advocate’s fees were also allowed. The Mayor added that the usual default would be one months and a fortnights imprisonment in the respective cases.^[13]North Devon Journal, 25^th May 1911. findmypast.co.uk

The Royal Navy and the First World War

Thomas Smith’s military records contain no mention of any conviction, sanction or even the most minor misdemeanour, and it is likely that his sentence of one month imprisonment was spent on board HMS New Zealand. Commander Pearce’s character reference for Thomas Smith was genuine, and the month he was convicted of assault he was also promoted from Able Seaman to Leading Seaman, (giving him authority over other ratings). Between August 1911 and December 1913 Thomas Smith served on HMS Vivid (shore based at Devonport where he undertook engineering training) and HMS Indefatigable.

Leading Seaman Thomas Smith was still serving on the battlecruiser HMS Indefatigable when Britain entered what became known as the First World War, in August 1914. He was on the ship when it saw service in the Dardanelles in late 1914, and subsequent patrols of the North Atlantic in 1915. Promoted to Petty Officer in December 1915, Thomas Smith was posted back to HMS Vivid, thus narrowly avoiding the fate of all but three of his approximately 1000 shipmates, when HMS Indefatigable was sunk at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. Service then followed on HMS President, a training ship for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) and HMS Daedalus, the latter being the depot of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) to which Petty Officer Thomas Smith transferred in April 1916.

Between April and September 1917 Thomas Smith was based at RNAS Pulham near Norwich and RNAS Kingsnorth, Kent. Both stations were home to airships of the RNAS, with the former patrolling the North Sea and the latter training aircrew. Thomas Smith was an aircraft rigger, responsible for assembling and maintaining airships. As a Petty Officer he would have been a ‘Section Head’ responsible for approximately 20 ratings and reporting to a Chief Petty Officer and a commissioned Divisional Officer. Specifically, he commanded a ‘ground-crew’ who worked on airships. However, the North Devon Journal of the 14^th of September 1916 suggests that his duties went beyond the role of groundcrew and that he had become aircrew:

Mr Tom Smith, son of Mr Moses Smith, a well-known Barumite (a resident of Barnstaple), has been appointed boatswain in one of His Majesty’s naval airships. The appointment is equivalent in rank to that of a First Class Petty Officer.^[15]North Devon Journal, 14^th September 1916. findmypast.co.uk

By October 1916 Thomas Smith had completed 12 years and decided to extend his period of service. At this point his physical description was recorded again, this time with his hair being described as black, his eyes brown and his complexion as dark. One wonders if this was done to protect him from the periodic sweeps for ‘people of colour’ instigated by the War Office. He identified as a Presbyterian by religion – the same as his grandfather, Josiah Baseden Smith.

In January 1917 Moses Smith passed away. From the North Devon Journal:

A familiar figure in Barnstaple passed away at Pengelly’s Court in the early hours of yesterday morning in the person of Mr Moses Smith, a man of colour. A native of South America, deceased, who was aged 55, came to Barnstaple in 1883, on the occasion of his marriage and carried on business as a fish hawker. In his younger days he was a very clever boxer, and frequently took a turn in the boxing booths at the fair. He was a regular attendant at the fixtures of the Barnstaple Rugby Football Club, of which one of his sons was a member. He leaves a widow, and three sons, one of whom is a coxswain on a naval airship, whilst the remaining sons are engaged in coalmining in South Wales.^[16]North Devon Journal, 11th January 1917. findmypast.co.uk The North Devon Journal of the 18th of January 1917 reported on the funeral and named the widow, all three sons, two daughters-in-law, one … Continue reading

In September 1917 Petty Officer Thomas Smith was transferred to the Eastern Mediterranean, where the SS class (sea scout or submarine scout) airships of the RNAS were deployed on coastal patrols.

It was whilst serving with the ‘Aegean Group’ that on the 1^st of April 1918 the RNAS amalgamated with the Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force. Petty Officer Thomas Smith became 314376 Sergeant Thomas Smith, an aircraft rigger and a founding member of the new service. His personal details were recorded again: He was 5 feet 6” tall with dark hair, brown eyes, a “coloured” complexion and was a Labourer by occupation. Thomas Smith served in the Eastern Mediterranean until the cessation of hostilities in November 1918. For his service he would have been awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and most likely the 1914-15 Star.

The Peace Time RAF and a Second Smith Family

In January 1919 he returned to Britain and was stationed at RAF Pulham and RAF Cranwell. In November 1919 he was posted to RAF East Fortune in East Lothian. He married Catherine Shay at Edinburgh on the 2^nd of September 1920. On marriage, he was a Sergeant in the RAF and the son of Moses (a deceased fish merchant) and Fanny Smith. She was a Hosiery Factory Worker and the daughter of Archibald (a deceased shepherd) and Alice Shay.^[18]920. Smith, Thomas. (Statutory registers Marriages 685/4 1235). www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk Thomas Smith was described as a widower, although no information about his first marriage has been identified.

In July 1920, Thomas Smith was posted to RAF Howden near Hull, where the airships were deployed on minesweeping operations in the North Sea. In February 1921, a daughter, Catherine Patricia Smith, was born in Barnstaple, Devon. In June 1921 Catherine Smith was lodging in a house at Church Side, Howden, East Yorkshire. She was 20 years of age, married and had been born at Haddington, East Lothian.^[19]1921 Census of England & Wales. TNA. RG 15/23556/47/1/RD519 RS3 ED4,5,6. findmypast.co.uk

In September 1921, his mother, Fanny Smith died whilst Thomas Smith was home on leave. From the Western Times of 30^th September 1921:

Sudden Death at Barnstaple. The death occurred suddenly at Lower Maudlin Street, Barnstaple, on Tuesday of Mrs Fanny Smith, widow of Mr Moses Smith. She had been living with her sister. Mrs Bryant, and on returning to the latter’s house after visiting a neighbour, she was seen to stumble and fall. Neighbours went to her assistance but found life extinct. Deceased, who was 56 years of age, had been in indifferent health and under medical treatment for some time. One of the deceased’s three sons, a petty officer in the Navy, was home on leave. He is a well-known Rugby footballer, being a member of the United Services team.^[20]Western Times, 30^th September 1921. findmypast.co.uk

In January 1922 Thomas Smith was posted to Gosport, being promoted to Flight Sergeant in September of the same year. The rank of Flight Sergeant is the second most senior enlisted rank in the RAF, and the highest a ‘person of colour’ is known to have achieved at that time. It made Thomas Smith the second in command of an RAF Flight (approximately 40 enlisted men and 3-4 aircraft). The motto of the RAF is Per ardua ad Astra (“Through adversity to the stars”), and few had overcome as much adversity and risen so high as the son of a Black Fish Hawker from Barnstaple.

In December 1923, a son, Ronald Thomas Smith, was born in Gosport, Hampshire. Flight Sergeant Thomas Smith was discharged on a pension of £82/2s per annum in November 1926, with his pension increasing by £7/12s when he reached the age of 55 and again at the age of 65.

Civilian Life, the Second World War and Beyond

In 1939 Thomas and Catherine Smith were residing at 24 Cambridge Road, Gosport. He was employed by the Mercantile Marine (it is not known in what capacity) and she was undertaking ‘unpaid domestic duties’.^[21]1939 Register. findmypast.co.uk His date of birth was the 30^th of October 1888 and hers the 7^th of May 1901.

In May 1941, Thomas Smith returned to Barnstaple, probably for the first time since the death of his mother. From the North Devon Journal, 22^nd May 1941:

I was interested to meet in Barnstaple on Tuesday, Sergeant Tom Smith, an observer in the RAF. He was wearing ribbons denoting service in the 1914-18 war. He was the son of the late Mr and Mrs Smith, of Trinity Street, and it was nearly twenty years ago that he last visited his native town.^[22]North Devon Journal, 22nd May 1941. findmypast.co.uk For his service in WW2 Thomas Smith received the Defence Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945. TNA ADM 188/399/226353. TNA AIR 79/2724. BT … Continue reading

At 55 years of age Thomas Smith had almost certainly voluntarily re-enlisted, although what capacity he served in remains unclear. The reference to him being “an observer in the RAF” may have been based on his wearing of an ‘Air Observer’s brevet’ from the First World War, (a single wing with an O at the root). Whilst he was too old to fly in combat and his rigging knowledge outdated, he almost certainly possessed enough leadership and management experience to be a valuable addition to any RAF station. Prior to re-visiting Barnstaple in May 1941, he had probably been very busy: The Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940 had seen the RAF defeat the Luftwaffe and deter German invasion. The Luftwaffe then began a night bombing campaign (The Blitz) against British cities, lasting from September 1940 to May 1941. Whilst Barnstaple was only targeted once, Gosport, where Thomas and Catherine Smith resided, had been heavily bombed with many being killed. Perhaps that is why he re-enlisted.

It is interesting to imagine a wartime meeting between the veteran Flight Sergeant Thomas Smith and the enthusiastic brave Caribbean air and ground crew whose exploits and contribution are so eloquently explored by Mark Johnson and Kandace Chimbri.

Thomas Smith died at Gosport, Hampshire in November 1963.^[23]England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019. findmypast.co.uk Catherine Smith died in 1971.

In the mid-1950s, Lauriston Vernon Davis, a Jamaican born veteran of the Second World War and the Canal Zone, was stationed at RAF Chivenor. He and his family lived in rented accommodation at Barnstaple. His daughter, Zena, recalled: “Being one of the first black families in North Devon we received comments – some nasty – some said through pure ignorance”.^[24]barnstaplemuseum.org.uk/ourstories/a-true-gent-lauriston-vernon-davis/

Although it may have felt like it, the Davis family were not the first Black family in North Devon and even in the 1950s many ‘Barumites’ would surely have been able to remember both the Smith and the Mears families (see the Appendix for the latter). After service in Germany, Lauriston Davis retired as a Flight Sergeant. After briefly returning to Jamaica, the family returned to Barnstaple. Lauriston ‘Larry’ Vernon Davis BEM died in 1972.^[25]Ibid.

Appendix – John Mears of Calcutta and Barnstaple

John Mears was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India c.1827-1835. Nothing is known of his origins, but as he was described as “a man of colour” and more specifically “a mulatto”, it is likely that he was of ‘mixed heritage’. The earliest reference to John Mears in Barnstaple dates from 1861, when he was residing at Bodens Row. He was 34 years of age, unmarried, a Fancy Shell Worker by occupation and had been born at Calcutta, East Indies. Living with him were: Fanny Matthews, aged 25 years, an unmarried Housekeeper who had been born at Barnstaple. MJ Mears Matthews, aged 4 years who had been born at Exeter. Susannah Mears Matthews, aged 8 months who had been born at Barnstaple.^[26]1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census. TNA RG09/1489/39/16/82. findmypast.co.uk Both ‘MJ Mears Matthews’ and ‘Susannah Mears Matthews’ were recorded as “Daughters” but the relationship between the two and Fanny Matthews and John Mears was unclear, until the 1871 Census when it became clear that in 1861 they were a family group – albeit with Fanny and John being in a civil partnership.

In January 1868 he was a Fish Hawker by occupation, married and residing at Green Lane, Barnstaple, Devon. In that month he was convicted of a drunken assault and sentenced to six months hard labour.^[27]North Devon Journal, 16^th January 1868. findmypast.co.uk Apparently, this did nothing to deter him, and in June 1869 he and his wife Fanny, were convicted of being drunk and riotous in Anchor Lane, Barnstaple on a Saturday night. Their antics, which attracted “a crowd of 200 persons”, earned them each a fine of 5s plus costs.^[28]North Devon Journal, 3rd June 1869. findmypast.co.uk

In 1871 John Mears was residing at Green Lane, Barnstaple. He was 36 years of age, a Pedlar by occupation and had been born at Calcutta. A married man with three children, living with him were: Fanny J Mears, aged 33 years, a Housekeeper by occupation who had been born at Barnstaple. Mary J Mears, aged 13 years, a Scholar who had been born at Exeter. Susan M Mears, aged 10 years who had been born at Barnstaple. John Mears, aged 13 months who had been born at Barnstaple. Lodging with the family was George Dibble, aged 19 years and a labourer born at Barnstaple.^[29]1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census. TNA RG10/2183/14/22/118. findmypast.co.uk According to findmypast.co.uk a Mary Mears married Charles Pugsley at Barnstaple in 1893. Additionally, from … Continue reading

In August 1876 the events of an alcohol fuelled election day culminated in a torchlight procession ending at the Railway Hotel, when rocks were thrown (which may or not have broken windows) as part of an attempt to settle old scores. All of the accused, including John Mears, were fined 1s.^[30]North Devon Journal, 31^st August 1876. findmypast.co.uk The same month, Fanny Mears was assaulted by an intoxicated male, after she had come to the assistance of a friend. He was given the choice of a fine of 10s and expenses or 14 days in gaol. His choice was not recorded.^[31]Ibid.

In August 1879 he was one of two fish hawkers taken to the County Court of Devonshire at Barnstaple over the quality of the fish they had provided to a Mr G Vickary. Both hawkers were required to refund Mr Vickary – John Mears, described as “a man of colour”, had to pay £3/9s/9d.^[32]North Devon Journal, 14^th August 1879. findmypast.co.uk

In April 1880, “John Mears (a mulatto)” was one of nine men charged with damaging the windows of the Railway Hotel, Boutport Street, Barnstaple.^[33]North Devon Journal, 22^nd April 1880. findmypast.co.uk

In 1881 John Mears was residing at 35 Green Lane, Barnstaple. He was 46 years of age, a Hawker by occupation and had been born in Calcutta in the East Indies (being a British Subject). A married man with two children, living with him were: Fanny Jane Mears, aged 44 years who had been born at Barnstaple. John Mears, aged 10 years, a Scholar who had been born at Barnstaple. William Thomas Mears, aged 2 years who had been born at Gunnislake, Cornwall.^[34]1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census. TNA RG11/2243/108/14/780. findmypast.co.uk

In 1891 John Mears was residing at Green Lane, Barnstaple. He was 63 years of age, a Paper Flower Maker by occupation and had been born in Calcutta in the East Indies (being naturalised British Subject). A married man with one child, living with him were: Fanny Jane Mears, aged 48 years, a Hawker who had been born at Barnstaple. William Thomas Mears, aged 12 years, a Scholar who had been born at Gunnislake, Cornwall.^[35]1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census. TNA RG12/1773/4/1/4. findmypast.co.uk

Fanny Jane Mears died at Barnstaple in 1895.

In 1901 John Mears was residing at 2 Fry’s Court, Silver Street, Barnstaple. He was 85 years of age, a Chair mender by occupation and had been born at Calcutta, East Indies. Living with him was: Elizabeth Woollacott, aged 48 years, a widower and Charwoman by occupation, born at Exeter, Devon.^[36]1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census. TNA RG13/2143/41/6/43. findmypast.co.uk

John Mears died at Barnstaple in 1902.