Tom Smith

Born in Boldon Colliery in March 1895, he was a miner before he enlisted in the 14th (Service) Battalion DLI in September 1914. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Arras on 22 April 1917 and lost both his eyes.

After recovering from his wounds, he went in September 1917 to St Dunstan's in Regent's Park, London. There he was trained as a mat and net maker and met his future wife, Kitty Hunter. Tom Smith never fully recovered from his wounds and died at his home in Boldon Colliery in July 1952, aged 57.

St Dunstan's was founded in 1915 in Regent's Park, London by Sir Arthur Pearson, who had himself lost his sight in 1912. St Dunstan's trained over 1500 servicemen blinded in the Great War and continues its work today.