Joseph Henry's Story.
Birkenhead News 10 June 1916ON H.M.S. HAMPSHIRE.
New Ferry Patriot Supposed Lost.
The young wife of Stoker Harry Smedley, who resides with her parents at Leigh Road, New Ferry, greatly fears that he was among those lost when H.M.S. “Hampshire,” with Lord Kitchener and his Staff aboard, went down off the iron coasts of the Orkneys. His name does not appear in the meagre list of survivors.
Stoker Smedley, who was only married four months ago, is a son of Mr. A. Smedley, an old reader of the “News,” who has for some years carried on business as a baker at Canmore, Alberts, Canada. The young fellow came to England in November, 1914, with the intention of doing his bit, and joined the Royal Naval Division. He had been at sea for about twelve months. His wife is hoping against hope that he may yet prove to have been spared.