Albert George Smith

GEDCOM Note

Albert George Smith Born 3 March 1893 Died 31 October 1985

Albert was born in Russell Street, Bathurst, NSW, Australia in 1893, 3rd son of Ellen and Herbert Smith.
His father was killed by a train as he walked along the railway line coming home from work.
His mother was left with 4 children, Mervyn (Merv) (baby), Albert (5yo), Herbert (Herb) (8yo) and Edward (Syd) (11yo).
The Insurance Company attempted to say that Herbert committed suicide but eventually paid out the policy after a court case.
Ellen's parents, Ellen and George Seymour (Baltch), helped her and she opened a shop in the front bedroom of her home, in Russell Street, Bathurst, NSW, Australia.
As things were tough, Albert went to live with Ellen's parents, on a farm at Peel, NSW, Australia, for about 2 years. He had a wonderful time and when he returned home, aged about 8 years old, he did not want to go to school.
When Albert was 14 the band he was in was invited to play at a NSW Sports Carnival at Sofala. At the time there were 2 Brass Bands in Bathurst. They travelled to Sofala by coach and had to get out of the coach coming up the hill at Wattle Flat and walk. They then got back in the coach and just before Sofala they got out and marched into town playing. The older boys were billeted at the Sofala Pub and the younger ones were with towns people. Albert said he met a young girl, Nellie, whose father had a store in Sofala.
Albert left school aged 14 and went to Technical College for 12 months doing woodworking. He didn't like it so he became an apprentice Boot Repairer, for Mr. Davis. He worked the 1st year for nothing, the 2nd year for 2/6 (2 shillings and 6 pence) a week. Then the Government tried to get the offer of 5/- (5 shillings) a week. He received 5/- for 3 months then when the scheme fell through Mr. Davis made him work for nothing for 3 months and then reduced it back to 2/6. Mr. Davis then took his son out of the asylum, to work for him, and sacked Albert. When the Boot Repairer, up the Road, Jack Weil, found out Albert was out of work, he took him on at 12/6 a week.
When Albert's family decided to move to Sydney Jack Weil offered Albert 30/- a week to stay. He was tempted as his Aunt Fanny (Fanny Elizabeth Baltch) who married Harry Flanagan (Henry William Flanagan) offered to put him up at their pub (Edinboro Castle Hotel, Bathurst). However, he moved to Sydney.
Initially he lived with his mother and aunt, Ada, in Ada's Boarding House, for country boys, on the corner of Elizabeth and Cleveland Streets, Redfern (2018 the building is still there). He then moved to Pyrmont and that is where he met Alice. She was pregnant with Albert when they married. A fact Alice tried to hide by tearing up their Marriage Certificate. They lived for a short while with Albert's mother, before moving to 52 Dillon Street, Paddington. Albert was sent a white feather during World War 1 (white feathers were used as a symbol or mark of perceived cowardice, during the First World War), however, Albert did attempt to enlist and was rejected because of a hernia.

≤a href="17101904.JPG">Joined Church of England Lads Brigade≤/a>, Bathurst, 17 October 1904.

≤a href="08041909.JPG">Confirmed by the Bishop of Bathurst≤/a> at All Saint's Cathedral 8 April 1909 & admitted to Holy Communion at All Saint's Cathedral, Good Friday, 9 April 1909.

≤a href="DODGE.JPG">Albert, Merv (his brother), James Cranney (his father-in-law) & Perc Slim (Albert's boss at Will Wearwell, bootmaker's Bondi
Junction)≤/a> driving, in a new Dodge on a 3 day Easter trip to Kangaroo Valley.

≤a href="BROTHERS.JPG">Smith brothers≤/a>, from left to right, E. Syd Smith, Albert George Smith & Mervyn Ivor Smith probably in Bathurst.

≤a href="06111914.JPG">Marriage Registration≤/a>, Albert George Smith & Alice May Cranny, 6 November 1914. As Alice was under 21 (19) the consent of her father was required. Witnesses: Ellen McFadyen & Edward Sydney Smith

Albert did not retire until he was 71 and only then because the site of ≤a href="WIWEWELL.JPG">484 Oxford Street Bondi Junction, Will Wearwell Bootmakers'≤/a> was being redeveloped to build Bondi Junction Plaza.

≤a href="AMSARC68.JPG">Invitation to Anne & Arthur's Wedding≤/a>

≤a href="SPSROG70.JPG">Invitation to Susan & Ralph's Wedding≤/a>

≤a href="BTRMPF82.JPG">Invitation to Beth & Michael's Wedding≤/a>

≤a href="2031982A.JPG">Beth & Michael's Wedding - Family Group≤/a>, 20 March 1982. (back row left to right) Eric Römer, Beth Ferguson (nee Römer), Michael Ferguson, Hazel Römer (nee Smith), Albert Smith (Hazel's dad), Glad Ferguson (Michael's mum). (front row left to right) Brad Römer, Shane Ferguson and Trevor Römer.

Telegrams on the occasion of Albert's 90th Birthday from ≤a href="AGS1983A.JPG">The Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser≤/a>, ≤a href="AGS1983B.JPG">The Local Member, Les Johnson MHR≤/a> and ≤a href="AGS1983C.JPG">The Leader of the Opposition, Bob Hawke≤/a>

Death Notice Sydney Morning Herald Friday November 1, 1985 p.21
Funeral Notice Sydney Morning Herald Saturday November 2, 1985 p.160

≤a href="31101985.JPG">Death Certificate≤/a>. Death Certificate Cause of Death:- I(a) Pulmonary oedema hours (b) Congestive Cardiac Failure years; II Colonic haemorrhage due to herniation 1 day

≤a href="AS311085.JPG">Bereavement Card≤/a>

≤a href="ALICEALB.JPG">Alice & Albert's Ashes Plaques≤/a>, at Woronora Cemetery. Albert's Ashes - Palm Court - Wall of Memories Panel EE - 0182.