Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Prominent Citizen's Demise
Descendent of a family which both on the maternal and paternal side first became associated with the Beverley district in 1837, only eight years after the foundation of the colony, (Milford Desmond  Smith, whose name will ever be associated with "Ferndale," seven miles East of Beverley, passed away at the age of 71 years at the Beverley Hospital on Monday night. He suffered a heart attack in  the city two years ago and was ill for a long period, since when he has lived in retirement at Beverley. It was a second attack of the same nature which caused his demise. He is survived by a widow, two sons (Cedric and Keith), and two daughters Mary (Mrs K. Blechynden, of Kokeby), and Flora (Mrs. Peacock, of Mawson). whilst a brother, Conrad, and a sister (Mrs. Baty, also survive him. All are  very well-known here and to them all condolences are be ing extended in their sudden bereavement.

The late Milford Smith on the maternal side was descended from the Sewell family which after a period at the Swan River Settlement came to St. Aubyn's Well in this district. On the paternal side.  His forebears settled at "Roesland" (later the property of Messrs. H. E. Blechynden and Sons) where the original home was built in 1839 and where most of a large family of nine sons and four daughters  were born. Two of the male members of this family were the recipients of presentations from the government of the day in recognition of services rendered in the capture of the murderers of Police- contsable Hackett, which occurred just off the main street of the town ship. Milford Smith was a son of Mr. Samuel Smith who in 1890 selected land which became the "Ferndale" property and where  the subject of this notice was born in 1894. As a young man he became associated with the working of the farm but with the outbreak of war in 1914 enlisted for over seas service, serving first with 10th Light Horse reinforcement unit in Egypt and later joining up with the 4th Division Artillery with which he served for 2 years in France. He rose to the rank of Sergeant of Artillery. His periods of  leave from France were expended in seeing all he possibly could of the homeland. Following his homecoming he returned to Beverley, to the farm duties from which he had been absent for over four years. In his absence the farm had been carried on by his father and brother, Conrad. His father died in 1940. The late citizen was responsible for the foundation of the Ferndale sheep and cattle studs,  meeting with much success with Southdown sheep and Aberdeen Angus cattle. The measure of the stud's success may be gauged by the many awards it has gained over the years at Royal and other  hows in this State and even at Smithfield in London.  The property-was expanded in 1926 by purchases from adjoining landholders. The previous year Mr. Smith had married Miss Flora McDonald, of "Dunbeath," East Beverley.

Over and above his normal farm activities Milford Smith found time to give much service to various organisations in this district and further afield. During the last world war he was chairman of the Beverley Branch of the Australian Comforts Fund. He also served periods as vice-president of the Beverley District Infant Health centre, president of the Beverley branch of P.P.A., and a member of the general Executive; President of the Beverley sub branch of the R.S.L. for eight years; and chairman of the local Repatriation Committee. He was also a State president of the Country & Democratic  League of W.A. and on occasion represented W.A. at Wool Producers Conferences. The late citizen at one time aspired to represent the district in the State Legislative Assembly, offering his services as  a Country Party member, but was defeated at the polls by the late James Mann.

As a young man Milford played football with the original St. Aubyn's Club and was always interested in all types of clean sport. His demise robs the district of a resident of splendid repute who served his country and his district with a fine sense of citizenship and no little ability.

There was a very large attendance at the funeral of the deceased citizen which was held at the Anglican Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon, and following a service at St. Mary's Church at which the    Rev. Henry Tasseil paid tribute to the deceased both in his family life and in service to his country. His citizenship had been demonstrated in diverse activities in furtherance of local organisations and to  the advantage of the community in which he had lived for so long. He had loyally served the Country Party to which he had given strong allegiance and farmers organisations in general.         

The pall bearers comprised: Messrs. C. Prior, C. S. Weaver, L. W. Hamilton, R. Bremner, L. R. Weaver, Geo. Carr, M. S. (Murray and W. E. A. Heal and at the close of the service the "Last Post" and "Reveille" were sounded in soldierly tribute to the late citizen's service in the first world war. Many friends of the family now living in other parts of the State were present to pay their last tributes of  respect, and the Country Party were represented by former M.H.R. Len Hamilton, Hon. Les Diver President of the Council. Hon. Norm Baxter, M.L.C., and the Member for the District, Mr. H. W. Gayfer. 

The R.S.L. pledge: "They shall not grow old at the going down of the sun and in the morning we shall remember them" was spoken by Beverley Branch president Mr Dave Mcintosh. A great number of  floral tributes were received.