Leonard Frank Smith enlisted into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in July 1940, and volunteered for The Parachute Regiment in 1942 when the 8th (Midlands) Parachute Battalion was formed from the Royal Warwickshire Regt. Corporal Smith attended parachute training course number 44 at RAF Ringway between 28 December and 8 January 1943. His course report stated that he was 'Keen and cheerful'.Cpl Smith was posted to 4 Platoon, B Company, 8th (Midlands) Parachute Battalion and took part in the D-Day landings to Normandy on 5-6 June 1944.

Cpl Smith died on 6 June 1944, aged 31 years old. He is now buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Normandy.

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Headstone image provided by Bob Hilton.