Beatrice “Trixie” Smith
Beatrice Slater was born in Denby, in 1889, to Councillor William Slater and Maria (Nee Smith) Slater. She was also the granddaughter of clockmaker, John Smith of Derby.
She married Lieutenant Charles Sydney Smith of the 13th Sherwood Foresters on 1st June 1915. The marriage took place at St John’s Church, Derby. The bride wore a dress of white voile, with a large leghorn hat, wreathed with pink roses. She carried a shower bouquet of pale pink carnations.
They had one son, Victor Sidney Smith, who was born after her husband had died in November 1918.
In her younger years she was a good hockey and tennis player, but in 1909 Trixie joined the Derbyshire Golf club at Ashbourne Road in 1909. She was an accomplished player, becoming ladies captain and secretary.
There is still a competition, with a trophy, at the Kedleston Park Golf Club called the Trixie Smith Memorial Mixed Foursomes. (Photo courtesy of the club).
She died 6 Dec 1937, aged 48, at her home 3 Wheeldon Avenue, Derby, and was interred at Nottingham Road Cemetery with her husband.
Major Charles Sydney Smith had transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and served throughout the war. He won the Military Cross and was mentioned in despatches several times.
In November 1918 after a long illness, he died from pneumonia following Spanish flu in Belton Park military hospital in Grantham. He is buried in Nottingham Road cemetery and included on our roll of honour.
Gravesite Details WKA3, 3872
We are grateful to Nigel Aspdin for supplying and allowing us to use original family photographs.
