The Royal Naval Museum welcomes a new collection of personal artefacts belonging to the ‘Baker Soldier Sailor’
The story of an ordinary man known as the ‘Baker Soldier Sailor’ unfolds in a new collection showcasing some of his personal belongings, kindly donated to the Royal Naval Museum by his family.
Ninety years ago, a baker from Sussex was demobilised from the Royal Navy after being wounded, even though he never went to sea. A collection of his personal artefacts including photographs and his personal pocket watch are now on display in the Royal Naval Museum.
Alfred Frank Smith worked as a baker in Sussex and joined the Royal Navy in 1916. Instead of joining a ship he became an infantry soldier and on 28th September 1918 he was hit in the chest by a German bullet, lodging itself close to his heart.
Demobilised in 1919, Alfred bought a newsagent & tobacconist shop in Lewis. He had 10 children and died in 1974 with the German bullet still lodged close to his heart, after being there for 56 years!
We only know of Alfred''s story due to the kind donation to the Royal Naval Museum by Alfred''s family of photographs, a pocket watch he carried in the trenches and his original service certificate together with the memories that they have of him. This is just one of the many treasures on display in the Royal Naval Museum.
