Weird WWI mystery of six brothers

Secrets revealed ... Marcia Nicholl with an old wedding picture of her grandfather, Herbert William Smith on his wedding day with Loveday Myrtle Pascoe in Peterborough, in 1916. Picture: Keryn Stevens Source: News Corp Australia

NINETY-NINE-YEAR-OLD Lottie Hooper went to her grave grieving for six brothers who 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.

"I go out to return" was written by Aubrey Lyall "Jack" Smith. Source: Supplied

A WWI penny stamp and its message on the back. Source: Supplied

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

WW1 soldier.. Alfred Ernest Smith. Source: Supplied

WW1 soldier ... Herbert William Smith. Source: Supplied

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.

WW1 soldier ... Clarence Leslie Smith MM. Source: Supplied

WW1 soldiers ... Herbert William Smith (seated) and Frederick Walter Smith. Source: Supplied

"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.

WW1 soldiers ... Clarence Leslie Smith (Military Medal) (seated) and Errol. Source: Supplied

"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 WW2.

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 whofought 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.

Complex family ... The Smith brothers from South Australia with young Lottie Smith. Her brothers Herbert, Frederick and Alfred are pictured here. Source: Supplied

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.

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