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No Arthur Frederick Smith in the inter-war Beckenham directories that I've spot checked, but some houses had more than one family and only one is named. There was an Arthur Smith without a middle name in Blandford Road, but he had gone by 1939. I don't have a sub for the 1921 census, but if you have the address there (or from elsewhere) and will tell us here or send me a PM, I'll check further, including the 1939 Electoral Roll.

I can't see him in the Service Register pages of the 1945, 1948 or 1949 ERs. I don't have these pages for other postwar years (if they were printed).

He lived with his family at 7 Lennard Road, Beckenham in 1921. But I know he wasn't there in 1939. It was just his father, step mother and half sister still living there. And his step mother's mother.

This may sound silly but did Arthur possibly marry/remarry in 1984 to Callista Mary Miller. The war register would suggest she married a "Mr Smith".  She also died 1995

SMITH, CALLISTA  MARY     1916 
GRO Reference:  DOR  Q3/1995 in MEDWAY  (5611B)  Reg B24A  Entry Number 111


Smith
Callista Mary
1916
1995

England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
Chatham, Kent, England

SS

Yes I have suspected that one too. What I can't figure out is if he married someone else earlier in life. There's been some mention of a daughter but no one is really sure.

I have tried multiple times to find this relative on the 1939 register without success. Does anyone have any ideas?

Arthur Frederick Smith b. 7 March 1908 in Sydenham. As of 1921 he lived in Beckenham with his family. My mother thinks he may have lived in a caravan in Hoo near Rochester during the 70s, but this is unconfirmed. He died in Chatham in 1995.

It isn't too unusual to find young men living in drapers' dormitories in large cities during the 19th century.  This page gives a brief description:

https://bernarddeacon.com/2023/02/04/st-stephens-by-launceston-draper-and-caterer/

(The paragraph beginning In 1871....)

The author HG Wells was a draper's apprentice at one time (he wasn't happy), and used his experience in The History of Mr Polly, and also Kipps. If you have ever seen the film Half a Sixpence, based on Kipps, there are scenes set in the dormitory where Artie Kipps lives.

Thank you, that's very interesting.

The 1841 census is always a bit difficult to decipher. Joseph Hall (b. 1820 Ireland) was living on Thomas Street, Westminster. The household seems to consist of 22 young men between the ages of 15 and 30 who are all linen drapers, 3 porters, 1 housekeeper, 7 young female milliners and three female servants. I was trying to figure out what this place could be.