Capt James Arnold Smithwick

[stav01]

I am very interested in this officer who deployed with the 2nd Bn R I Regt in 1914. He was wounded and taken POW after an engagement where the Bn were cut to pieces at lePilly on the 19/20 Oct 1914. I know he was taken POW and was part of an officer POW swop as he returned to Kilkenny Ireland where he died of his wounds in October 1915. Any information about his birth records or anything else that anyone might know will be greatfully accepted. thanks

[CaroleW]

The cwgc website shows he was 34 when he died so birthyear approx 1881

There doesn't seem to be an entry on the Irish 1901 for him but this seems to be his birth reg from the IGI Pilot website

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FBWD-G46

[cath151]

Hi,
Looks like he was in the Boer war.
James Arnold Smithwick
sergeant 9648
45 Company(Dublin), 13 Battalion Imperial Yeomanry.
Several medals.
was a bit unfortunate as he was taken prisoner in this war too, and released Lindley 31 May 1900.

Cathy

[stav01]

Thanks for the swift replies. He was a militia officer with the 5th militia bn R I Regt from the mid 1890s. I have some records of this. I have seen his medal group and he does indeed have a queens Boer war medal. I will need to check which unit he was with. would it be normal for a militia officer to revert to the ranks to deploy to the Boer war with a IY unit. Can anyone tell me his parents names please.

[CaroleW]

Re: parents

There is nothing on the IGI re: birth/baptism

1901 for Kilkenny doesn't have many entries for Smithwick and several can be ruled out on age or marital status (unmarried)

There is a widow - Christina Smithwick aged 52 and a John (62) and Elizabeth (50) Smithwick  and that's about it really for people old enough to have had a son in 1880's

You may have to buy a copy of his birth cert to get his parents names

[cath151]

Hi,
1911 Irish census (free to view)
1, Archers Street, Kilkenny
John Francis Smithwick  head wid  67 Justice of the Peace Merchant
James Smithwick           son    single 29  Merchant
Richard Smithwick          son   single 26  Merchant
plus 3 servants
Smithwick family born Kilkenny City
There are three trees on Ancestry which give details of the family, and a photo or two, though of course they need to be substantiated with certificates etc.
Cathy

[jds1949]

There is a surviving service record for this officer at the |National Archives at Kew

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=1621301&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CSMITHWICK&accessmethod=0

It has not been digitalised, so it's either a visit or ask a favour of someone going to Kew. You could ask the National Archives for a copy, but it could be expensive and it would take some time.

jds1949

[biddyboo]

Hi,
Captain James Arnold, died in London from complications from wounds not attended to during his time as POW. He is buried in Foulkstown Graveyard in Kilkenny. His parents were John Francis and Marion, a member of the Smithwick Family, Birchfield,Kilkenny.

[CaroleW]

as he returned to Kilkenny Ireland where he died of his wounds in October 1915

.

Re: Biddyboo's reply above - he died in London and here is his death reg

Deaths December qtr 1915
 
James A Smithwick  aged  34  Marylebone  1a 704