“Gerty”  Smith

I have always just loved this wonderful photo of a young woman taken during WWI.  From the necklace she is wearing, we can almost make out the face of her loved one.  Since the photo is on a card and is inscribed with the name Gerty.  The only “Gerty” that was living at 36 Gordon St., Birmingham was Bessie Gertrude Smith.  We might presume the man’s likeness in the necklace would be her future husband Frederick Ernest Corr.

Gerty was born Bessie Gertrude Smith on the 23rd day of May 1897 at 2 Back 24 Gordon St., Aston, Birmingham, England to Henry James Smith and Jane Newman.  She was the 8th child to be born to the couple.

When the war was over and Frederick returned, they were married on 25 December 1920 at St Andrew’s Church in Borderley, Warwickshire, England after the banns were read.  From the marriage license I noted that Frederick was living at 31 Gordon St, whilst Gerty was living at 36 Gordon St.

From my research I have concluded that  Gerty and Frederick had two children; Gertrude Corr born 13 August 1924 and Harry Corr born 19 July 1930 both in Birmingham, England.

Gerty passes away in the month of  January of 1987 in the Birmingham area of Warwickshire, England, this is according to the Death Index for England.  I still need to obtain her death certificate to verify actual date of death and cause.