Would anyone be able to assist wih citations for the above, please? The chap concerned has recently died in a care home leaving no next of kin and a member of a Facebook group is trying to piece together his background. Thanks in anticipation...
I thought this may be him, taken from http://rcafassociation.ca/uploads/airforce/2009/07/RAFINRCA.S-Z.htm However the update on his full name is: Stanley Gorden Grieve Smith SMITH, P/O Stanley (RAF 176715) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.434 Squadron - awarded as per London Gazette dated 19 January 1945. Born 1922 in Skiton, Yorkshire; home there; educated at Brougham Street County Council School. Servd in the ranks; commissioned May 1944. Air Ministry Bulletin 17146/AL.960 refers. No published citation other than "completed operations with courage and devotion to duty." DHist file 181.009 D.3080 (RG.24 Volume 20636) has recommendation (undated) listing 39 sorties (196 hours 46 minutes), 14 October 1943 to late September 1944 (document torn and dates incomplete). Flight Engineer. Pilot Officer Smith has completed a tour of operations totalling 39 operations , nine of which were attacks against heavily defended major German targets including Kassel, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart and Berlin. He has also participated in minelaying operations in the Kiel and Baltic areas. On four different occasions the operations were completed under very harassing circumstances. At all times Pilot Officer Smith as Flight Engineer had displayed high skill, determination and zeal. His coolness and complete fearlessness while in action has been an example to all members of the squadron.
Hi Idler This is a good possibility of being his birth details - do they fit with the facebook info? Name: Stanley Smith Mother's Maiden Surname: Carr Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1922 Registration district: Skipton Inferred County: Yorkshire Volume Number: 9a Page Number: 74 The article above has him born in Skiton, but I have assumed they meant Skipton TD
Thanks Eva and TD. However, an FB update has his DOB as 5 April 1924. It is also mentioned that he may have been a warrant officer, which would explain the DFM and DFC pair.
A bit to correct before any trace can be done. 90877 is a early RAF number from the formation years but was assigned to George Smith http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11756465 So not applicable to someone born in 1924 A glance through holders of both DFM and DFC shows no one with the name Stanley Smith The birth year suggests an entry to service circa 1943/44 which is quite late to give the senario to complete aircrew training then rise from Sgt to WO, award of DFM before gaining a commission and DFC. Possible for a combination of late/post war service but not common. Ross
Thanks Ross. Weren't RAF WOs eligible for crosses instead of medals like Army WOs with the MC instead of MM?
Yes if award was gazetted when substansive rank was W/O then DFC instead of DFM but DFM could have been gained prior to Warrant being announced or during period of prior NCO service. Dual DFC/DFM award to Smith is not common Dual Holders listed are Robert Leslie Smith Lewis George Smith Eric Harold Smith Edward Miles Smith Denis Normam Smith David Smith The meagre back story has too many fingers in the pie - creating a smokescreen of fiction. Once facts not feelings are established then progress can be made on this one but at the moment it does not stack up. Ross
A long shot Andy but could Stanley be his middle, preferred, name? I often go into homes to find some of them have a preferred name over the name they were christened with?
Yes, the starting point is a bit muddled. I wouldn't be surprised if they turned out to be a brother's medals, or something like that.
I've been looking at the listed Dual holders FreeBMD has a Lewis G Smith born in second quarter 1924, registered Birmingham District This is detail of DFM and DFC https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15783/lot/65/ Might be source of error in linking 90877 George Smith to Stanley Smith. Long shot but has circumstancial links edit - L G Smith was commissioned from temp F/Sgt so although not W/O it's close enough for family recolection/history Ross
Idler You say he died recently - do you have a date and location for that (i.e. local registrars office type location), I might be able to work backwards (as I often do, some might say) TD
Hi Ross, The chap on FB is called Stanley Gordon Grieve Smith, born Uckfield, Sussex, and as for the service number given, the closest i can find in AIR78 is 1890877 Stanley Gordon Smith, with a prefix of "EH" stamped on the card. The airman from 434sqdn is a completely different bloke altogether. The FB thread is a shambles, with so many people clutching at straws, they will soon have enough bales to furnish a stable. The tenuous link to 434sqdn was simply because they found the number 877, and promptly associated it with Halifax LK877, quite laughable really.
That's him, Alan. Against the odds, FB might have cracked it: 1890877 Stanley Gordon Smith who was a sergeant airgunner with 138 Sqn when he was brought down and made a POW. They've even dredged up an identifiable photo of him and his crew in 1943 (although he's been remembered as labelled as 'Sydney'). Apparently the medals are in the care of some solicitors so that mystery will persist for a bit.
Name: S G Smith Rank: Flight Sergeant Army Number: 1890877 Regiment: Royal Air Force : Officers & Other Ranks POW Number: 267479 Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: 4B Camp Location: Muhlberg (Elbe), Germany Section: Royal Air Force : Officers & Other Ranks TD
Stanley G G Smith in the England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2005 Name: Stanley G G Smith Mother's Maiden Surname: Bishop Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1924 Registration district: Uckfield Inferred County: Hampshire Volume Number: 2b Page Number: 178 Not sure how long Uckfield has been in Hampshire ?? TD