Cyril T Smith volunteered for the airborne forces from The Manchester Regiment. 

After successfully completing his parachute jump instruction course at  Kabrit, Egypt. He became a member of The 11th Para Bn. With them he took part in Op Market Garden in September 1944. He was wounded and taken prisoner by German forces. He was imprisoned in Limburg Stalag 12a and given the POW number 91451. 

Cyril was discharged from the army 5 December 1945.