A new documentary tells the remarkable story of a police officer killed in wartime air raids in York.
York St John University will host the premiere of documentary PC Robert Smith – The Final Beat, a new film that tells the tale of Robert Smith, a railway policeman who was on duty the night York was targeted in the Baedeker Raids in WWII.
It will premiere in the Creative Centre at the University on Monday 27 April. The date is significant, as it’s two days before the 84th anniversary of the devastating 1942 bombing in York that claimed numerous lives, including that of PC Robert Smith.
The evening is planned as an act of remembrance to honour PC Robert Smith and all those who lost their lives on that terrible night in York’s history.
The film is produced and directed by Mick Child, as part of his MA Media Production degree at York St John University. As a former railway worker himself, it’s been a deeply personal creative project for filmmaker Mick.
“I spent 33 years on the railway, so I’ve always felt part of that wider railway family,” explained Mick. “That sense of connection is something that never really leaves you. It is one of the reasons this story mattered so much to me.
“I have close connections with the York Normandy Veterans and Flowers for the Fallen, and I have always been interested in the history of York. Stories of remembrance and those who have been overlooked have always stayed with me.
“I was struck by the fact that this was someone who had been almost completely forgotten for nearly 80 years. I felt strongly that his story deserved to be told.”
Despite the discoveries, some questions remain unanswered.
“One of the ongoing challenges has been tracing his family,” Mick continued.
“We know about his brothers and sisters, but because Smith is such a common name, we have not yet been able to identify any living relatives. That is something I would still very much like to resolve.”
More than ten MA and undergraduate students from York St John University have been involved in both the film’s production and the organisation of the premiere evening.
The Final Beat is a collaboration between students and local organisations, museums and creative professionals. It’s produced in close partnership with local historian John Shaw, whose research and expertise have helped shape the historical accuracy of the project.
Reenactment sequences were filmed with support from Derwent Valley Light Railway, Eden Camp Modern History Museum, Church of St Lawrence, Bedern Hall and York Cemetery, with added support from York Theatre Royal and Everwitch Theatre for the production’s staging and costuming.
Following the screening, there will be a live Q&A panel with producer and director Mick Child, historian John Shaw, presenter Nick Beilby, and fellow MA filmmakers Jay Brown and Daniela Cotognini.
Though the film screening event is currently sold out, any ticket returns will be made available at the Eventbrite page here.
Any funds raised through screenings or future partnerships are being directed equally towards three causes: a York Normandy Veterans bench for the Soldiers Lawn at York Cemetery, York Cemetery Trust, and for specialist technical equipment to benefit future cohorts of Film and Television students at York St John.
