In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

SMITH, Uriah (Roy) - Urias was from a Gooseberry Cove family of sailors that served their King and Country during WW1. He was one of five sons of Joseph and Martha Smith of Gooseberry Cove, Trinity Bay, NL, who served with the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve.

Roy as he was known by most individuals, enlisted with the Royal Naval Reserve in February 1910 and served the next 4 years training at the HMS Calypso. When the WW1 was declared, he was considered a well trained sailor. He was deployed to the Royal Canadian Navy in October 1914 and was part of a contingent of over 100 men of the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reservist to be assigned to man the HMCS NIOBE. After the HMCS NIOBE's boilers failed in 1915, he was transferred overseas. He served at various shore based stations including HMS Pembroke, HMS PRESIDENT III, and HMS VIVID. His records do not indicate which vessels he served on with one exception, HMS OROTAVA. He was deployed to ship between the fall of 1915 to 1916 after his arrival in England.

Roy returned home to the HMS BRITON after the war and was demobilized in September 1919. He returned home to Gooseberry Cove and married a school teacher, Janet Baker of Fogo. They moved to Boston where he remained with the occasional visit to Newfoundland. They both passed away and are buried there.

Ships served in:

* Loaned to the RCN 16 Oct 1914

HMCS NIOBE - Served in Niobe 16 Oct 1914 - 31 Aug 1915

* Returned to the RCN 01 Sep 1915

Research Credit:  Lester Green, Southwest Arm Historical Society