Memorial To Captain George Henry Smith, Hull Western Cemetery

The memorial to Captain George Henry Smith is located in Hull Western Cemetery and was created in 1904 by an unknown mason. This grave memorial features a white limestone pedestal with a double plinth and cornices designed to resemble roofed pointed arches. Atop the monument is a sculpture of an anchor and chain resting against a rock. The inscriptions are in black, with the east face dedicated to Captain Smith, stating: "In loving memory of my dear husband Capt George Henry Smith, who was killed on the ill-fated Trawler Crane by the Russian Baltic Fleet in the North Sea Octr 22nd 1904 Aged 40 years. We cannot Lord thy purpose see, But all is well that is done by thee. Erected by his loving wife." The south face honors Ada, Captain Smith's beloved wife, with the inscription: "In loving memory of Ada, the beloved wife of Capt George Henry Smith, who died Augt 8th 1912 Aged 49 years. At rest." Additionally, the upper plinth on the east face features a finely inscribed side view of a trawler at sea.

Historically, Captain Smith and his Second Mate William Leggett were killed during the Dogger Bank Incident, when the Russian Baltic Fleet mistakenly fired on the Hull Gamecock fishing fleet, believing the trawlers to be Japanese torpedo boats. This incident, which nearly escalated into war between Britain and Russia, is significant as it highlights the tensions among imperial powers leading up to the First World War. The memorial serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of such events on ordinary lives. The monuments for Captain Smith and his Second Mate share a similar design but have slight variations in their sculptural elements.