Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 11 November 1939

 Tall Wath Sailor

Wath has a family of six-footers. Father, mother, two sons, and some of the daughters are all six feet tall or more. But the giant is 21 years Able Seaman Victor C., Smith second son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Smith, of 5, Burman Road. A.B. Smith is now aboard his gunboat out East. His eldest brother, Marshall told a reporter: “The Navy’s done a lot for him. He was tall, but not really big when he joined, but now he is 6ft. 5ins. and a very powerful lad.”

Last week Mrs. Smith received from her son a letter which was dealt with by the censor on September 14th, and in it the writer tells how he is enjoying life with the Navy. “I’m getting plenty of cricket and football,” he says. In one newspaper cutting his family learned how he took 5 wickets for 21 runs in an important match, and in another the reporter had commented on the fact that “Smith bowled in bare feet.”

The Smith family have served their country well. The father served in the Boer War and the Great War, and finished with the rank of Regimental Sergeant-Major. His regiment was the Norfolks, popular known as “the Hungry Ninth.”

Marshall Smith, the elder son, was recently invalided out of the Navy. He has just left the Montagu Hospital, Mexborough, after an operation, and he is anxious to get back to his ship. Marshall, who stands 6ft. 2ins., was one of the Navy’s boxing hopes. As a heavyweight he won many trophies, including a cup, a medal, and a statue, and he was the representative of his Service in matches with the R.A.F. at Uxbridge and Chatham, and with the London Fire Brigade.

Meanwhile, a brother-in-law and a cousin are serving in France, and two brothers-in-law have entered the Navy.