Reginald George Smith

Mr Reginald George Smith was born at the Waterloo Stores Inn in Radipole, Weymouth, Dorset, England on 5 August 1879.

He was the son of James Smith, an innkeeper, and the former Mary Ann Crocker (b. 1844 in Plymouth, Devon) who were married in Hampshire in late 1871. 

One of four children, he had three elder brothers: Walter James (b. 25 August 1873), Francis Henry (b. 1875) and William John (b. 20 October 1876; d. 1884). 

Little is known about his father; what is known is that for several years he was the innkeeper at Waterloo Stores Inn in Radipole, Weymouth. 

Reginald appears with his family on the 1881 census living at 5 Salisbury Terrace, Melcombe Regis, Dorset; also living with them was his unmarried paternal aunt, Mary Smith (b. circa 1862). He would be listed as a pupil at a Roman Catholic School, Park House, Creswell Park, Charlton, London by the time of the 1891 census. Reginald’s father died when he was a young boy and it was through his mother’s hard work and perseverance that he and his brothers received a good education. 

By the time of the 1901 census Smith was employed as a footman at Willesley Hall in Leicestershire. When he went to sea is not certain but he was known to have been working as a steward aboard the Majestic as early as June 1907, specifying his address at the time as 45 Luxmore Road, Walton.

When the 1911 census was conducted Smith and his by-then widowed mother were living at 6 Roman Street, Southampton and he was described as an unmarried ship's steward. His mother indicated that she relied on her son for financial support. His eldest brother Walter (aka Father Aloysius Smith) was a Catholic priest and in 1912 had been the parish priest of Bodmin, Cornwall for some twelve years.¹

When he signed-on to the Titanic on 4 April 1912, Smith gave his address as 46 Stafford Road, Southampton. His previous ship had been the Olympic and as a saloon steward he received monthly wages of £3, 15s.

Reginald Smith died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. 

His brother, Right Reverend Aloysius Smith was made Abbott in 1914 and was later recalled to Rome after being elected Abbott General. He died in 1960 aged 86.