ROBERT NEWKIRK SMITHER of the Harvard Club, Boston, Mass.; (business) 35 Congress St.,
Boston, Mass.
A FEW days after the United States entered the World War, Robert Smither offered his services to the US Navy Department.
Smither is said to have arranging for the purchase of the property at the State Pier in New London, Conn., recently owned by the Eastern Forwarding Company, ship husbandry firm tending the submarine DEUTSCHLAND.
Thereafter sent to England, Lieutenant Smither set to work on the proposed Mine Barrage across the North Sea. In this activity he served on the Staff of the Commander of the Mine Force of the Atlantic Fleet. Soon there after, I think Capt. Koenig was attached to mine sweeper duty too, albeit for Imperial German Navy.
Following the November 11th, 1918 Armistice, Lieut. R.N. Smither joined the Assistant Secretary of the Navy in Paris, thereby gaining passage on the confiscated former Norddeutscher Lloyd liner SS GEORGE WASHINGTON along with President Wilson as it made its return run to Amerika in 1919.
Robert Newkirk Smither hoping to become a most peaceful banker for the remainder of his life, met his end after a three-day illness in early May, 1945. At the time of his passing, Smither had become a vice president and general manager of the German-American-owned George Ehret Company, brewers, at 193 Melrose street, Brooklyn, NY. The Ehret Brewing Company was later purchased by Schlitz. Schlitz later died, along with its German-American successor, Stroh's, in 1999.
War Record: April 7, 1917-March 1, 1919, Lieutenant, U.S.N. R.F.; Staff of Commander, Mine Force. U. S. Atlantic Fleet. Served in laying of North Sea Mine Barrage. 1918. Recommended by cable by Commander Sims (U. S. Naval forces operating in European waters) for promotion to Lieutenant-Commander for meritorious services.
.
Bookmarks