Francis William Smith

A Deck Hand with H.M. Drifter Datum, Francis died on 26th of October 1916 at the age of 22. 

Francis was born at Corton on 8 November 1893, a son of Arthur and Charlotte Agnes Smith. He was baptised at Saint Bartholomew’s Church, Corton, on 3 December 1893. In 1901 his family lived at High Street, Corton. By 1911 they were living at 9 Worthing Road, and Francis was a drift net fisherman. 

Francis joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 11 January 1915 and from 16 January 1915 he served on the trawler Coronne (sic) and he joined the Datum on 30 April 1915. 

On the night of 26-27 October 1916 the Datum, along with several other Lowestoft trawlers in the Dover Patrol, was attacked by German destroyers and sank with the loss of all hands.   

For details of the attack on the Dover Barrage see: The German attack on the 'Dover Barrage' 26th/27th October 1916 (sussexhistoryforum.co.uk)