Individual Details
Sydney Ross "Ross" SMITH
(6 Aug 1921 - 17 Feb 1991)
Events
| Baptism | Aug 1921 | Hurstville Methodist Church, Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia |  | ||
| Birth | 6 Aug 1921 | Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia | | ||
| Living | 1922 | Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia | | ||
| Note | 1922 | Smith : Recorded in the spellings of Smith, Smithe, Smythe, and the patronymics Smiths, and Smithson, this is the most popular surname in the English speaking world by a considerable margin. Of pre 7th century Anglo-Saxon origins, it derives from the word 'smitan' meaning 'to smite' and as such is believed to have described not a worker in iron, but a soldier, one who smote. That he also probably wore armour, which he would have been required to repair, may have lead to the secondary meaning. The famous Anglo-Saxon Chronicles sometimes known as the first newspaper, in the 9th century a.d. uses the expression 'War-Smith' to describe a valiant warrior, whilst the later medieval Guild List of specialist trades has blacksmith, whitesmith, tinsmith, goldsmith and silversmith amongst its many members, but no trade of 'smith'. These descriptions of the skilled workers of the Middle Ages were exact, and it is our opinion after studying many early records that the original smiths were probably the guards of the local lord of the manor. This would account for the singular popularity of the name, as the early social records indicate that the trades of tailor and baker were much more prevalent than that of Smith in any form. What is certain is that over five hundred coats of arms have been granted to Smith nameholders, surely an indication of the soldier background, rather than a humble ironworker. The great family Smith is 'first' in all major cities of the English speaking world, yet curiously the greatest concentration of Smith's are in Aberdeenshire, Scotland! Why this should be so is far from clear. Not surprisingly the Smith name was one of the very first into the New American colonies, being held by the famous John Smith (1580 - 1631), explorer and writer, who helped to found the state of Virginia. He was reputedly saved from execution by Pocahontas, the Indian chief's daughter, who died in England in 1622. The first recorded spelling of the family name, and probably the first surname recorded anywhere in the world, is that of Eceard Smid. This was dated 975 a.d., in the English Surname Register for County Durham, during the reign of King Edward of England, known as "The Martyr", 975 - 979 a.d. (Source: Copyright: Name Origin Research www.surnamedb.com 1980 - 2007) | |||
| Living | 1923 | Hamilton, New South Wales, Australia | | ||
| Living | 1925 | Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia | | ||
| Living | Apr 1928 | Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia | | ||
| Living | Nov 1932 | Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia | | ||
| Education | 1935 | at Canterbury Boys High School and he obtained the Intermediate Certificate | | ||
| Occupation | Mar 1936 | Office Boy at Buzcotts in Bathurst St, Sydney when he started his working life in [D] | | ||
| Occupation | 12 Aug 1936 | Temporary Junior Messenger with the Metropolitan Water, Sewage & Drainage Board | | ||
| Note | 1937 | He studied Shorthand, Typing, Bookeeping & Commercial Correspondence at night beginning in 1937 | | ||
| Note | 1940 | In 1940 he began a Diploma in Public Administration at the University of Sydney (studying at night). The war interrupted his studies & he finally graduated in 1950 | | ||
| Military | 4 Dec 1941 | Sydney University Regiment, | | ||
| Military | Jun 1943 | He was promoted to Lieutenant in June 1943 & served with the 2/4th Infantry Battalion 6th Division in New Guinea from October 1944 until discharged in September 1946 | | ||
| Marriage | 26 Mar 1946 | Rockdale Methodist Church, Rockdale, New South Wales, Australia - Jean Kathleen BAKER | | ||
| Living (fam) | 1 Apr 1946 | South Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia - Jean Kathleen BAKER | | ||
| Living (fam) | Oct 1946 | (two rooms at the back of the house) - 120 Connells Point Road, South Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia - Jean Kathleen BAKER | | ||
| Living (fam) | Jun 1948 | 5 Wisdom Street, Connells Point, New South Wales, Australia - Jean Kathleen BAKER | | ||
| Note | Aug 1959 | He was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Water Board (youngest in history) in Aug 1959 | | ||
| Note | 20 Dec 1965 | He was appointed Secretary of the Water Board (2nd youngest in history) on 20 Dec 1965 | | ||
| Living (fam) | Aug 1973 | Blakehurst, New South Wales, Australia - Jean Kathleen BAKER | | ||
| Note | 12 Oct 1981 | He retired from the Water Board 12 Oct 1981 | | ||
| Death | 17 Feb 1991 | of heart failure (coronary heart disease) following a fall down the stairs - 135 Stuart Street, Blakehurst, New South Wales, Australia | | ||
| Burial | 21 Feb 1991 | Woronora Cemetery, Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia |
Families
| Spouse | Jean Kathleen BAKER (1921 - 2010) |
Endnotes
1. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
2. NSW Birth Certificate: 287/1921
3. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
4. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
5. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
6. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
7. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
8. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
9. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
10. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
11. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
12. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
13. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
14. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
15. Robinson-McCauley Family Bible
16. NSW Marriage Record: 15010/1946
17. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
18. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
19. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
20. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
21. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
22. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
23. Research by Sydney Ross Smith
24. NSW Death Certificate: 4110/1991