The great Anzac mystery of the Smith brothers: Did they all die in World War I?
AT age 99, Lottie Hooper went to her grave grieving for six brothers whom she believed had died in WWI — but family secrets may have hidden the truth.
NINETY-NINE-YEAR-OLD Lottie Hooper went to her grave grieving for six brothers whom she believed had died in World War I.
The only daughter of a humble South Australian rural family even set a place at the dinner table for the missing boys for years afterwards.
For half-a-century her great grandson Chris Fox has paid homage to a stamp handed to him by Lottie when he was a boy. On the back are written the words, “I go out to return, Jack” — a final message from the front from her favourite brother whose nickname was Jack.
His uncle and Lottie’s grandson, Nick Hooper, has been the custodian of the family history and he holds a set of precious photographs of the brothers in their military uniforms as well as wartime letters written to Lottie.
Such is the fog of war and the secrets contained in families that two other branches of the Smith family have stepped forward to say that at least two of the brothers Lottie had presumed dead had in fact returned from war, but never made contact with their grieving sister.
SMITH FAMILY: Six brothers who were thought to have died in WWI
Another relative, Marcia Nicholl, has researched the family history and she believes that none of the Smith brothers died in the war.
Her grandfather was Herbert William Smith who according to official records died in Adelaide in 1916.
The war history of the brothers is not clear, but Ms Nicholl said the official records clearly show where they died and where they are buried.
“It was a time when details were hidden and families had secrets,” she said.
“Lottie might have been trying to protect the family from some of those secrets.”
Military historian Professor Peter Stanley said research conducted by the Great War Forum supported claims that the brothers did not die.
“Family history is often murky, but in Australia we have more complete military records than any other nation,” he said.
“While aspects of the Smith brothers’ post-war lives might be obscure, that’s the point — they did not die in the war.”
Mr Fox said he was told by Lottie that she had waved her brothers off to war and that they never came home.
“The photos and writings are from my great uncles during the war,” Chris Fox said.
“The stamp is our family’s most treasured possession and when given to me by Lottie it was done so with great significance to her.”
Lottie was so affected by her loss that she even banned her own son Ronald from serving in World War II.
Like an episode of the television genealogy program Who Do You Think You Are the story of the Smith brothers published by News Corp Australia on Anzac Day has unearthed a complex family story.
It has also revealed that at least two brothers who fought returned home.
Mr Fox said it made no sense why such loving boys, who wrote tender letters to their only sister, would cease contact after the war.
“They were clearly close as a family and to cut contact is illogical.”
Adding to the mystery is the family of South Australia liberal politician and former SAS officer Martin Hamilton-Smith whose grandfather Clarence was one of the brothers.
Mr Hamilton-Smith said there was always an understanding in the family that four of the Smith brothers had died in the great war.
His uncle, also called Clarrie, remembers a man who returned from war terribly damaged by the wounds he sustained at Bullecourt. Clarence deserted the family and went “walkabout” for 10 years.
“There was never any talk about what happened to the other brothers,” he said.
“There must have been a family breakdown.”
Further deepening the mystery is the fact that two or three illegitimate Smith boys also turned up and one of them assumed the name of a dead brother.
Originally published as The great Anzac mystery of the Smith brothers: Did they all die in World War I?