Sjt 319320 Thomas Smail M.M. KOSB

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by mazzie74, Mar 28, 2014.

  1. mazzie74

    mazzie74 Junior Member

    Hi,

    Sjt 319320 Thomas Smail M.M. KOSB

    Can anybody give me any information on the above?

    We have his medals which include:

    1939-45 Star
    France and Germany Star
    Defence Medal (Although this could have been his fathers)
    Military Medal

    We also have the letter he received from George VI for receiving the MM.

    He would never talk about the war, and we don't know why he received the MM, or anything about his service.

    Any help would be appreciated,

    Thanks,

    Darin.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    You can get a copy of his recommendation from National Archives for £3.36.

    You got his Army Number wrong.

    http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C9317465


    Name

    Smail, Thomas



    Rank:

    Serjeant



    Service No:

    3193120



    Regiment:

    5 Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers



    Theatre of Combat or Operation:

    North West Europe 1944-45



    Award:

    Military Medal



    Date of announcement in London Gazette:

    23 August 1945
     
  3. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

    Hi Darin,

    I hope the link below takes you to the London Gazette

    http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37235/supplements/4265

    I also did a search of the 'britishnewspaperarchives' and I think the attached may also be your man. You'd have to purchase a few credits to view it in full, but the news article also appears to have a photograph of him.
    Cheers - Maria

    Sorry Darin, that could be false link to that news article. I refined my search to just T. Smail and the Evening Telegraph report the T. Smail was with the RASC. The ET states the man was 33 in 1941 and from St. Andrews. Does any of that info fit with your gent?
     

    Attached Files:

  4. mazzie74

    mazzie74 Junior Member

    Hi - Thomas was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne although his parents came from Kelso in Roxburghshire.
     
  5. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Screen shot 2014-03-28 at 10.47.39.png


    London Gazette:
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37235/supplement/4265/data.pdf
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37235/supplement/4264/data.pdf


    If you haven't already done so apply for a copy of his records, as these will provide you with a timeline with details of his service around which you can build a better picture of his time in the army.
    See 'Service records of deceased Service personnel'
    https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records
     
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  6. mazzie74

    mazzie74 Junior Member

    Hi,

    I have realised I have missed the 1 out of his service number.

    Thank you all for your input.

    This is more than I expected,

    Thanks again,

    Darin.
     
  7. jmcq

    jmcq Junior Member

    An extract from " Flushing to Bremen"

    Just after midnight, after bringing down a “stonk’’ on the offending gun positions the two leading platoons of “D” dashed across the autobahn and got into the outskirts of the village. Shells were still raining down and Germans were sniping from the houses. 17 Pl were being bothered by a 20 mm but they got round behind and charged, killing the crew Sergeant Smail and Major Fenton shot up a 20 mm and an 88 mm, killing and wounding most of the crew.

    This happened near a village called Embsen just outside Oyten, near Bremen
     
    dbf likes this.
  8. mazzie74

    mazzie74 Junior Member

    Excellent - thank you.
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Here's a list of the battalions war diaries that are available at Kew that cover all of WW2. Drop me a PM if you'd like any copying.

    WO 166/4364 INFANTRY: 5 King's Own Scottish Borderers. 1939 Aug.- Dec.
    WO 166/4365 INFANTRY: 5 King's Own Scottish Borderers. 1940 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 166/4366 INFANTRY: 5 King's Own Scottish Borderers. 1941 Jan. Dec.
    WO 166/8748 5 King's Own Scottish Borderers 1942 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 166/12596 5 King's Own Scottish Borderers 1943 Jan.-Dec.
    WO 167/775 5 King's Own Scottish Borderers 1940 June
    WO 171/1320 5 King's Own Scottish Borderers 1944 Jan.- Dec.
    WO 171/1321 5 King's Own Scottish Borderers (Echelon III) 1944 Aug., Sept.
    WO 171/5216 5 King's Own Scottish Borderers 1945 Jan.-Dec.

    Regards
    Andy
     
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