Charles Rattray Smith

Charles Rattray Smith (1859–1941) taught in Britain before emigrating to New South Wales, where he taught classics and languages at various public schools. He was the inaugural headmaster of Newcastle High School from 1906. In 1915, he became headmaster at North Sydney; in 1919, he transferred to Sydney High School, where he was headmaster until taking long service leave in 1924 before his retirement in 1926.[1][2][3]

Charles Rattray Smith
"Caesar" Smith in academic dress
Born(1859-12-29)29 December 1859
Rendall, Orkney Islands
Died10 June 1941(1941-06-10) (aged 81)
Willoughby, New South Wales, Australia
Resting placeMacquarie Park Cemetery, North Ryde
EducationMA (Aberdeen)
Occupation(s)teacher, headmaster
Years active1880-1924

Early years

Charles Rattray Smith was born on 29 December 1859 in the Congregational Manse for the Parish of Rendall, Orkney, Orkney Islands, Scotland where his father, Alexander Smith, was the Congregational Minister; his mother was Clementina née Cobban.[4][5]

Education

He attended Aberdeen University and was graduated M.A. in 1880.[5][6]

Schoolmaster

Smith returned to Orkney as a schoolmaster: the 1881 Census finds him living in the Stronsay Schoolhouse with one of his elder sisters, Frances, as his housekeeper.[7]

Emigration to and early career in New South Wales

In 1883, he emigrated to New South Wales to take up his career as a teacher in public schools. His first appointment was as assistant teacher, Bathurst High School on its opening in October 1883 but soon after took up his first of three appointments at Sydney Boys High School. From March 1885, he acted as temporary headmaster of Goulburn High. Other appointments followed including to Fort-street Model School and Leichhardt Superior Public School, where he was first assistant master from 1897. In 1902, he returned to Sydney Boys High School as classics master under J. Waterhouse.[2][3]

Foundation Headmaster, Newcastle High School

He was tasked with the establishment of the new High School at Newcastle in 1906. He led the "School on the Hill" until 1915.[8][9]

One of the school houses is named "Smith" in his honour.[10]

North Sydney Boys High

He became Headmaster, North Sydney Boys High in 1915,[1] the second to hold the post, succeeding Nimrod Greenwood.[11] When he arrived, he brought the nickname "Caesar" with him from Newcastle.[11] The history of the early years of North Sydney Boys' High described him as a disciplinarian who favoured detention and would travel the classrooms in the afternoon in academic cap and gown announcing the names of those who would join him for an extra half-hour after school; nevertheless, he was described as "a man of great personal charm and is still remembered with affection by those who were at North Sydney during his time."[11]

Sydney Boys High

Following the sudden death of Robert John Hinder,[12] Smith returned to Sydney High School (Mary Ann Street, Ultimo) in his final appointment as headmaster. He was introduced to the students at the 1918 Speech Day, where he received three cheers.[13]

Family life

On 24 December 1884, Charles married Alice Lydia Hartley at "Glencoe", Cadia, near Orange, New South Wales.[14] A son, Alexander Gordon, was born in 1886 when Charles was posted to Goulburn;[15] two daughters, Rosa Constance[16] in 1889 and Olive Frances[17] in 1891 were born during his tenure at metropolitan schools; the youngest, Adolphus Charles Cobban, was born in 1897,[18] passing away in his 15th year at the family home, "Corio", Mayfield on 16 August 1912 and was buried 18 August 1912 in Sandgate Cemetery.[19][20]

Charles Rattray Smith M.A. (Aberdeen) died at his residence "Tremenheere", 16 McClelland Street, Willoughby on 10 June 1941 aged 81 years. He was survived by his wife, Alice, and children (Alexander) Gordon, (Rosa) Constance (Mrs Frederick Joseph Harris[21]) and Olive (Mrs Milton D. Hunter[22]).[23] He was buried in the Congregational Cemetery, Northern Suburbs (now Macquarie Park Cemetery, North Ryde) on 11 June 1941; his short obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald[1] noted: "Many former pupils and colleagues attended his funeral."[24][25]

Alice died on 31 January 1942 and was buried on 2 February 1942 with Charles.[25][26]

Notes
  1. "MR. C. R. SMITH". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 12 June 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  2. Armitage, Audrey (1983). Newcastle High School : the first 75 years. Hamilton, N.S.W.: 75th Anniversary Committee, Newcastle. pp. 10–13. ISBN 0-9592118-0-2.
  3. "SYDNEY HIGH SCHOOL". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 3 November 1924. p. 8. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  4. General Register Office, Scotland t/as ScotlandsPeople, Statutory registers, Births from 1855; digital image, "United Parishes of Evie and Rendall, County of Orkney", entry 1 for 1860, SMITH, Charles Rattray (29 June 2011).
  5. Johnston, (Colonel) William (1906). Roll of the graduates of the University of Aberdeen, 1860-1900. Aberdeen.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. "Aberdeen University, Faculty of Arts". Aberdeen Weekly Journal. 19th Century British Library Newspapers. Aberdeen, Scotland: Gale (6899). 7. 10 April 1880.
  7. General Register Office for Scotland, 1881 Scotland Census; Parish of Stronsay, County of Orkney
  8. "Education". Newcastle Boys High School Old Boys Association. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  9. Armitage, Audrey (1983). Newcastle High School : the first 75 years. Hamilton, N.S.W.: 75th Anniversary Committee, Newcastle. pp. 10 ff. ISBN 0-9592118-0-2.
  10. "School Sport Houses". Callaghan College – Waratah Technology Campus. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  11. Storey, H. M. (Henry Mackintosh) (c. 1962). History of North Sydney High School 1912-1962. Crows Nest, New South Wales: North Sydney Boys' High School. pp. 12–13.
  12. "A GREAT TEACHER". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 23 November 1918. p. 7. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  13. "SYDNEY BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 13 December 1918. p. 8. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  14. Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, New South Wales, Marriage register, Orange District, No. 6872/1885
  15. Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, New South Wales, Birth register, Goulburn District, No. 14055/1886
  16. Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, New South Wales, Birth register, St Leonards District, No. 9953/1889
  17. Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, New South Wales, Birth register, St Leonards District, No. 32706/1891
  18. Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, New South Wales, Birth register, Petersham District, No. 34576/1897
  19. Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, New South Wales, Birth register, Waratah District, No. 13047/1912
  20. "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 21 August 1912. p. 16. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  21. Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, New South Wales, Marriage register, Chatswood District, No. 18117/1937
  22. Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, New South Wales, Marriage register, Mosman District, No. 11857/1920
  23. "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 11 June 1941. p. 10. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  24. "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 11 June 1941. p. 9. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  25. "Genealogy Search". Macquarie Park Cemetery & Crematorium. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  26. "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 2 February 1942. p. 10. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
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