Reprinted from The Packet, November 5, 2015
by Lester Green
Mary Martha Smith knew pride, and loss
Mothers are often the unsung heros of war. During World War I and World War II, in particular, Newfoundland woman suffered the loss of sons and husbands, and lived with the constant worry of having someone they loved in harm’s way.
Phoebe Martin (nee Baker) and Mary Martha (nee Spurrell) Smith.
Mary Martha Smith of Gooseberry Cove, South West Arm, was one such woman.
She Joseph Smith, son of Benjamin and Rachael Smith of Gooseberry Cove, and their first son, Moses, was born in 1877. The couple would have eight more children, for a family of seven boys and two girls.
Joseph pursued the cod fishery and when his sons were of age, they joined him in the fishing boat. Families during this time period were also involved in logging and by the time Joseph and Martha’s youngest daughter, Alice Smith, was born the family was operating a watermill at Round Harbour.
The first tragedy to strike this family came after the marriage of their son, Moses, to Dinah Piddle of Heart’s Content in 1899. The couple had a son, Isaac Joseph. In 1909, however, Dinah developed tuberculosis (TB) and died. Mary and Joseph helped Moses with the raising of Isaac Joseph. Then Moses fell ill and lost his life to TB in 1911. There was on hesitation. The grandparents became full-time parents to Isaac Joseph, who became a son to them.
Luke was Joseph and Martha’s first son to enlist in the Royal Naval Reserve, joining up in March, 1906.
Their second son, John, joined in December, 1910, and
Urias (Roy), also joined.
In March, 1914, son Benjamin (Ben) also signed up.
Mary Martha now had four sons enlisted in the military and a husband with failing health.
A major political storm was brewing in Europe and Martha’s life was about to change.
When war was declared on July 28, 1914, folllwing the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, men of the British Empire were called to join the Royal Naval Reserve.
Mary Martha realized the Navy was about to take three of her sons that had enlisted. Later in the summer, Roy (who had moved to Boston, Massachusetts), told her that he had been recalled to the Navy.
Left at home with a dying husband, a dark cloud was growing over her, grief and constant worry was about to become a heavy burden that she would carry to her grave.
According to church records, her husband passed away on Oct. 19, 1914, aged 63 years.
She was now the head of the household and the task of supporting her dwindling family at home became a reality.
Her youngest son, James, 17, her daughter, Alice, 14and her grandson, Isaac Joseph, 15, supported their mother as much as possible but it must have been difficult to comfort a worried mother and a grieving wife.
With four sons now enlisted, her mind was filled with concern for them. It was impossible for her to know their whereabouts; the only thing she knew was that they were serving on different ships, likely in a variety of places that was continuously changing and constantly facing dangers from enemy U-boats and mine fields.
In late January, 1917, a message was sent that no mother wants to receive.
Instead of continuing with the celebration of her 57th birthday, a happy occasion with her three children at home, she received news that her son, Luke, had lost his life on Jan. 28, 1917.
He had been aboard the HMS Laurentic when the ship struck a mine, and sank.
Unknown to her, a year later another son — Ben — came very close to losing his life.
On Dec. 10, 1917, two ships collided in Halifax Harbour. A French cargo ship, the Imo, carrying explosives to Europe struck a Norwegian vessel, Mont Blanc. The crash started a fire on the Imo, which caused the cargo to explode, killing 1,600 people instantly, injuring 9,000, and wiping out most of the homes and businesses along the Halifax harbour.
Unknown to Martha, her son Ben was onboard the HMS Niobe seeking a passage back to Europe.
Her two remaining sons at home constantly talked about going to St. John’s and joining the war effort but Martha spent many hours explaining about the realities of war and convinced her son, James, to remain at home to help her continue with raising the family.
Isaac Joseph, however, could not be convinced. On May 3, 1918, he enlisted and was assigned to the H.M.S. Briton.
After the war, Mary Martha lived for 21 years and enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She often said without hesitation, that she had five sons who served their country during the Great War.
As we reflect and remember those who have served in both World Wars and who serve in the armed forces today, let’s hope that words often spoken by Mary Martha after the Great War, ring throughout the world and become true for everyone: “I hope I never live to see and worry about another world war”
Mary Martha died Sept. 1, 1939, ironically the day that the second world war is said to have begun with the invasion of Poland by Germany and the subsequent declaration of war on Germany by France and the United Kingdom.