Gladys Le Blanc Smith, Death in Childbirth, and her daughter Beatrice Le Blanc Smith Died in the Sinking of The Tanjong Penang, World War Two

Monument to Gladys Le Blanc Smith, All Saint's Cemetery, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

"In Ever Loving Memory of

Gladys

The Dearly Beloved And Most Devoted Wife Of

Fredrick Stuart Le Blanc Smith

Born January 8th 1884 - Died August 2nd 1913."

Gladys Le Blanc Smith was born Gladys Haig on 8th January 1884 at Bray Court, Windsor Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire to John Haig, a distiller from Scotland and Jane Mary Ann Davis. Gladys's father John was to pass away five months after the birth of his daughter in the June of 1884.

Gladys, her widowed mother, and siblings can be found living at Marlow Place, Station Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire. A grade I listed Georgian house, built by John Wallop, 1st Earl of Portsmouth.

Marlow Place, Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

The family may have travelled abroad around the time the 1901 Census was taken as Gladys's elder sister Maud Haig was married in India.

On 18th October 1910 Gladys married Frederick Stuart Le Blanc Smith, a member of The London Stock Exchange at All Saints' Church, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead. The Slough, Eton, and Windsor Observer announced to forthcoming marriage on October 8th 1910 as follows:

"The marriage arranged between Frederick Stuart Le Blanc Smith, only son of Stuart Le Blanc Smith, of St George's Lodge, Cookham, and Gladys Haig, youngest daughter of the late John Haig, of Bray Court, Maidenhead, and will take place at Boyn Hill, Maidenhead, on the 18th of October." - Slough, Eton, and Windsor Observer, October 8th 1910.

On 19th October 1910 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"MARRIAGE OF MISS GLADYS HAIG. 

Few more interesting and pretty weddings have been solemnised in this district than that which took place yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, at 2.15, at the church of All Saints'. Boyn Hill, between Miss Gladys Haig, daughter of the late Mr. John Haig, Bray Court, and Mr. Frederic Stuart Le Blanc Smith. son of Mr. Stuart Le Blanc Smith, of St. George's Lodge, Cookham. Both bride and bridegroom are well-known and very popular in the district, and consequently much interest was taken in the wedding, which was attended by a large number of relatives and friends of the happy pair. 

Miss Gladys Haig, A.R.C.M.. a soprano vocalist of distinguished ability. has for some years been a welcome contributor to programmes at high-class concerts in Maidenhead and neighbourhood, while her services have been in much request in other places. When her engagements have permitted, she has most readily assisted at concerts, &c., in aid of charitable and religious objects, and her kindness has been very keenly appreciated. 

The bridegroom is better known at Cookham than in Maidenhead, taking as he has done an an active part in the village pastimes, and especially in aquatic meetings, whereat he has frequently officiated in various capacities. 

The church was very effectively decorated with palms, Liliums, &c., by Mr. J. W. Bunn, manager at the Castle Hill Nurseries. where also the handsome bouquets were made. As the guests arrived. Miss Alice Ibbetson, who presided at the organ, played appropriate music, The service was fully choral. The bride—who arrived in a light blue motorcar. No. BL 1839, which was tastefully decorated with white chrysanthemums entered the church leaning on the arm of her eldest brother, Mr. Thomas Haig, of Hinton House, Twyford. She looked charming in a dress of white satin duchesse, trimmed with a flounce of exquisite old duchesse lace (the gift of her mother) and draped with ninon de sole. A tulle veil, trimmed with lace to match that on the gown, was worn over a tiara of myrtle and white heather. A beautiful sheaf of white lilies was carried. She was attended by one bridesmaid—Miss Rubie Warner, niece of the bride, who wore a turquoise blue satin gown veiled with mauve ninon de sole, with a large black picture-hat. A bouquet of pale pink carnations and lilies of the valley was carried, which, with a gold flexible bracelet, was the gift of the bridegroom. The "best man" was Mr. Norman C. King, who ably discharged his responsible duties. The officiating clergy were the Rev. W. S. Mahony, senior curate of St. Giles', Reading, assisted by the Rev. Dr. Batchelor, Vicar of Cookham, and the Rev. Canon Drummond, Vicar of All Saints', Boyn Hill. The hymns sung were "Lead us, Heavenly Father, lead us," and "O, perfect Love." Whilst the register was being signed, the organist played Tannhauser's inspiriting march, while the bride and bridegroom passed down the aisle to the strains of Mendelssohn's Wedding March, smilingly acknowledging the salutations and congratulations of their assembled friends. 

A reception was held at 7, Bovn Hill-avenue, the residence of the bride's mother, and was largely attended. The catering by Messrs. E. Spindler and Sons was excellent. Later In the day the newly-wedded pair left for London. en route for South Devon, where the honeymoon is being spent. The bride's going-away costume was a gown of dove-grey cloth and ninon, embroidered with handsome oxidized trimming. She wore a large beaver hat, trimmed with ostrich plume to match the gown. The dresses were made by Miss Myra Salter, Queen-street; and the millinery by Tidy and Tidy, High-street. During the afternoon a merry peal was rung from All Saints' belfry in honour of the happy event." 

The 1911 Census shows the couple living at Cairns, 7 Laburnham Road, King's Grove, Maidenhead.  Soon their marriage was blessed by the birth of their daughter Beatrice (Betty) on 26th August 1911. Twin brothers Edward and Graham followed on 2nd August 1913. Tragically Gladys was to pass away that same day due to childbirth complications. The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on Gladys's funeral on August 13th 1913 as follows:

"Funeral Of Mrs. F. S. Le Blanc Smith, 

Amid signs of deep and profound regret, the funeral of the late Mrs. F. S. Le Blanc Smith who died under particularly sad circumstances on 2nd of August at "Cairn," King's Grove, Maidenhead, took place on Wednesday, at the Maidenhead cemetery. A funeral service was first held at All Saints' Church, conducted by the Rev, Dr. A. W. Batchelor, vicar of Cookham, assisted by the Rev. d. S. Chapman. Besides the mourners, relatives and friends, there was a large congregation of persons in the church who desired to pay a last tribute to one who was well-known locally during her professional career (unfortunately I haven't found a reference to Gladys's career in the records available), and who was so highly esteemed. The service was deeply impressive, especially during the rendering of the hymns "For all the Saints, who from their labours rest," and "On the resurrection morning." Mr. J. Gordon Bissley rendered the organ accompaniments. The scene at the cemetery was very impressive, there being a large concourse of sympathisers at the graveside, where the last solemn rites were performed by the Rev. Dr. Batchelor. The chief mourners were: Mr. F. S. Le Blanc Smith (husband), Mr. Hugh Haig and Mr. Edward Haig (brothers of deceased), and Mr. S Le Blanc Smith (father-in-law of deceased). There was a large number of exquisite floral tributes." - Maidenhead Advertiser, Wednesday 13th August 1913. 

 

The 1921 Census finds the widowed Frederick and his children still living at Cairns, Laburnham Road, Maidenhead. Living with the family and helping with the children is Frederick's sister May Ann Le Blanc Smith

Beatrice would later train to become a nurse.

The outbreak of World War II saw Beatrice joining the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, where she served in the Far East on the 'Evacuation Ships'.  Beatrice was on the SS Kuala on 12th February 1942 when it came under enemy aircraft attack, killing many of the nurses, women and children aboard.  When the SS Kuala eventually sank off of Pom Pong Island, Beatrice was one of the few survivors.  However, fate was not kind to her. 

Fellow Nurse Margot Turner recounts -

"During the night of 16-17^th February, all women, children and wounded were taken off the island in rowing boats and placed on board the ‘Tanjong Penang’, a small cargo boat which was very crowed.

On the morning of the 17^th February 1942. She was hit by gunfire at 9.30 p.m. on that day and sank in about 5 minutes.

I was lying next to Sister Beatrice le Blanc Smith and there were people dead and dying all round us. Beatrice got a nasty wound in the buttock… My first thought was for the women and children in the hold; but a VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse) struggling up from there to the deck, her dress covered in blood, said that the hold had had the full force of one of the shells and was absolutely smashed. In any case I realised that there was nothing I could do as the ship was already at a steep angle and obviously just about to turn over. Beatrice and I just stepped into the sea and were very lucky not to be sucked down when the ship suddenly turned over and sank.

The cries and screams of the wounded, the helpless and the dying, were quite terrible."

Before the ship sunk the officers had managed to throw a few small rafts overboard and Le Blanc Smith and Turner got hold of two and tied them together.  Both Beatrice and Margot had managed to save sixteen people from the sea, including six children, two of whom were under a year in age.  Sadly, Sister Beatrice was not to make it, scumming to her wounds whilst still awaiting rescue on the life raft on 18th February 1942

Beatrice is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial Collum 114.

Singapore Memorial