Jump to content

Missing in action Sheffield soldier, Netherlands 1945


The missing ones

Recommended Posts

Thnks for the add. I am doing research about a soldier killed in the netherlands in February 1945. For this I am trying to trace next of kin or any other infornation/documentation about:
Lance Corporal Ronald Smirthwaite
Age 22
Died 22/02/1945
Son of Ada Baker of Fifth Park

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Abel Smirthwaite married Ada Short at Emmanuel Church, Attercliffe, Sheffield on 4th August 1907. Abel, a 21 year old bachelor was a Carter by trade, living at 2 house 16 court Greystock Street. Ada was stated to be a 19 year old (possibly only 17 years old) spinster, living at the same address. Their children were: William (died aged 7 months in 1914), Walter A (1915), Violet R (1918), Irene ( born 31st August 1920 married Kenneth Winterbottom in 1943), Ronald (born 2nd December 1922), and Nancy (born 18th March 1925, married Nicholas Kontoules in 1946 then Vincent Shaw in 1957)

Abel was a tram driver, living at 51 Downham Road, Firth Park in 1926.  He died at the General Hospital and was buried on 15th March 1926 in grave 23 section W1 of Burngreave Cemetery. Unable to find a record of a subsequent marriage for Ada, but presumably she was living as a couple with John Willis Baker.

In September 1939 Ronald, a Hammer Driver, was living at 51 Downham Road, with Ada Baker (born 6th April 1890), and John Willis Baker (born 7th December 1874) a Pyrometer Attendant. In January 1930 John W Baker, then an annealer, had been charged with fraud, taking £74 9s 2d from Hadfield’s annealing section sick and dividing club funds to support his wages. He was Treasurer of the fund. When arrested in London he stated that he had bought food for his wife and 5 children, but had not had all of it, someone else was involved. He was also charged with deserting his wife and family and given 2 months in gaol with hard labour.

235419789_JohnWillisBaker1930.thumb.png.f66369282a94a6514f6ef6f3f8acb1b1.png1757717383_51DownhamRoad.png.ab4455e85b39f93e31c42effdaf591c8.png

There is more information about Ronald's last days here, including excerpts from the Hallamshires' War Diary:

https://www.arnhem1944themissingones.com/missing-soldiers-in-the-netherlands-1940-1945-allied-german-and-axis/missing-allied-ground-forces/the-hallamshire-battalion-york-and-lancaster-regiment/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...