With some assistance from genealogist Cristine Clements, I will attempt to piece together the life of Vincent Smith.
He was born in Najni Novgorod, Russia, of English parents, who registered his birth in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England. He gave his date birth variously as 21st June 1871,1872 or 1865.
His parents were :
Vincent Salvatore Smith, born 1856 Kidderminster, Worcester (Carpet designer) and his wife Emily, also of Kidderminster. His uncle was Frederick Stanislaus, born Frederick Stanislaus Smith. [Born Kidderminster, Worcs. 27 Dec 1844, died London 22 Nov 1891]
There is some question on his service in South Africa, as records are difficult to access, but he may have served with the Border regiment, as a drummer, at age 17.
He appeared in the New Zealand press in 1910, in an arbitration case, as Vincent Salvator Stanislaus.
On January 2nd 1914 he married Jessie Dwyer, who passed away shortly afterward, at Lawrence, on March 12th 1914 aged 34.
He served in World War 1 under the name Vincent Stanislaus.
He seems to have led an interesting life, not exactly out of the reach of the courts, being charged twice with bookmaking and also selling liquor after hours – notwithstanding a “dispute” on Coronation Day, 1911, In Christchurch.
The details of his death are unknown, but one press article states that he had been an in-patient twice in 1943. At the time of his death, he was working in the library at Trentham Camp, aged around 72.
References:
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19101220.2.12?items_per_page=100&page=2&query=Vincent+Stanislaus+&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA.rev
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19421805
SELLING LIQUOR AFTER HOURS
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19180518.2.50?items_per_page=100&page=2&query=Vincent+Stanislaus+&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA.rev
BARMAN AS BOOKMAKER - CONVICTION IN WELLINGTON.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19201230.2.28?items_per_page=100&query=Vincent+Stanislaus+&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA.rev
Victor Salvator STANISLAUS
ANOTHER BETTING RAID -Arrest Effected at the New Commercial Hotel Good Barman Makes Bad " Book."
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTR19210108.2.33?items_per_page=100&query=Vincent+Stanislaus+&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA.rev
CORONATION CELEBRATIONS.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTR19110729.2.33.2?items_per_page=100&page=2&query=Vincent+Stanislaus+&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA.rev
DB
