Ray Smith served with the 10th (East Riding Yeomanry) Battalion of the Green Howards until 1943 when the 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion was formed from the unit.Pte Smith attended Parachute Training course No 69 at RAF Ringway between 21 June and 1 July 1943. His course report states that he was ‘hard working – satisfactory’.

Sgt Smith served in Normandy and in South East Asia before being demobilised on 13 September 1946.

Ray Smith died on 21 October 2014. Ray was a member of the Spalding Branch of the PRA.