- Type of Memorial
- Flag or banner
- WMR Reference Number
- 22006
- Description
- PENNANT OF A COMMODORE RNR AND ASSOCIATED SCROLL
- Inscription
- VICE ADMIRAL HUMPHREY HUGH SMITH D.S.O./ THIS PENNANT OF A COMMODORE, ROYAL NAVAL/ RESERVE, HANGS HERE IN MEMORY OF AN ADMIRAL WHO/ LIVED IN CROWN HOUSE, CASTLE STREET FROM 1926 UNTIL/ HIS DEATH ON ACTIVE SERVICE IN 1940./ JOINING THE ROYAL NAVY IN 1889 THE ADMIRAL SERVED/ THROUGHOUT THE 1914 - 18 WAR, BEING AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED/ SERVICE ORDER AND GAINING PROMOTION TO CAPTAIN/ IN COMMAND OF H.M.S. ARGUS ONE OF THE FIRST AIRCRAFT/ CARRIERS FROM 1918 TO 1920, HE RETIRED IN 1926. RE-JOINING FOR/ ACTIVE SERVICE IN 1939 HE SERVED AS COMMODORE RNR IN/ COMMAND OF ATLANTIC CONVYS UNTIL HIS FLAGSHIP WAS SUNK IN/ SEPTEMBER 1940. HIS BODY WAS LATER RECOVERED AND BURIED IN/ COUNTY DONEGAL, EIRE./ THE ADMIRAL PLAYED A FULL PART IN THE LIFE OF THIS VILLAGE AND/ FOUNDED THE RN AND RM FELLOWSHIP TO PROVIDE A LINK, IN/ PORTCHESTER, BETWEEN SERVING AND RETIRED OFFICERS AND MEN/ OF THE TWO SERVICES. THE FELLOWSHIP HAS A FINE RECORD OF/ SERVICES/ TO VARIOUS CHARITIES AND, IN 1951, ORGANISED THE FIRST GALA IN/ THE CASTLE GROUNDS, THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH WERE USED TO/ RESTORE/ THE FABRIC OF THIS CHURCH AS A MEMORIAL TO THE PEOPLE OF/ PORTCHESTER WHO DIED IN THE 1939 - 1945 WAR.