Mexborough and Swinton Times May 26, 1939

Obituary

P.c. John Ruston Smith

Borne by six of his police comrades from the Todmorden district, P.c. John Ruston Smith was interred at Thurnscoe cemetery on Tuesday.

The second son of Sergt. John Smith, of Thurnscoe, this 21- year-old constable had showed promise of a distinguished career in the Force and many letters of consolation bore striking tribute to the fine qualities, happy disposition and intellectual capacity of one of the most highly regarded young men in the town.

His sudden death was felt as a personal loss. P.c. Smith had been confined to Halifax Infirmary for just over a week with appendicitis. When his father, Sergt Smith, heard that complications had set in, he left his bed at the Mexborough hospital, where he himself had been treated for over a fortnight for a broken arm, and left immediately for Halifax by ambulance. He was able to spend an hour and a half at the bedside of his son.

This young constable was born at Sowerby Bridge, where his father was stationed, and was subsequently transferred to Thorne and later Thurnscoe, where the family had lived for five years.

He was educated at Sowerby Bridge, Thorne, Thurnscoe Hill Evening Institute and later at Mexborough Technical School. He worked at Hickleton Main Colliery with his elder brother for nearly two years, but in 1937 he entered the Wakefield Police headquarters as a trainee. He was first stationed at Todmorden and in 1938 was moved to the village of Walsden. He quickly associated himself with the people there and was regarded as a promising young swimmer and life-saving instructor as well as playing for the Todmorden and Walden cricket clubs, whose flags have been flying at half-mast this week.

A personal interest with the many people with whom he came into contact was amply demonstrated by the tributes that have been paid to his memory.

The Rector of Thurnscoe, the Rev. D. E. Hughes, conducted the final rites on Tuesday and spoke with feeling of his fine qualities and said that his passing left behind an example of a useful and conscientious life. Six of his Todmorden comrades were bearers, and a posse of 30 constables from the West Riding Constabulary was headed by Inspector Waugh, of Mexborough; Inspector Green, of Todmorden: Superintendent Ger. of Halifax, and Superintendent Gordon of Doncaster. Among the numerous other representatives were Mr. Mark Nokes. J.P., chairman of Doncaster West Riding Bench of Magistrates; Messrs. J. Landers and D. Dixon, of the Thurnscoe section of the A.R.P. Committee: members of the special constables at Thurnscoe and Todmorden. Private mourners included Sergt Smith and Mrs. Smith (parents), his brothers Eric and Fred and sister Miss Doris Smith, relatives from Sheffield and Ossett and friends from Sowerby Bridge, Thorne, Walsden and Todmorden, including two young bcys who had cycled the 10 miles journey to pay a last tribute to their friend. There were over 60 floral tributes.