Thomas William Smithson was born on the 21 February 1924.

He enlisted into The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in August 1941, as a boy soldier.

He served in the 2nd Bn, The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1943, when it had been converted to the airborne role, and he was one of those selected for the Divisional Headquarters Defence Platoon:  ‘I was transferred from Major. Howard’s D-Coy, 52nd Light Infantry, Ox & Bucks to form the Defence Platoon, 1st Airborne Div H.Q. when they went to North Africa.’ [1]

He did a shortened Parachute Course in August 1942: ‘About 5 of us done a parachute course just before joining the Platoon.’ [1]

He sailed with the main 1st Airborne Divisional Group to North Africa and May 1943, and took part in Operation ‘Slapstick’, in Italy, in September 1943.

He served in the 1st Airborne Divisional HQ, Defence Platoon, and he was the 2 Section Commander on Operation ‘Market’. He flew in a Horsa glider from RAF. Fairford to a landing zone to the west of Arnhem: ‘1 Sect Commander Cpl. Gwatkin, 2 Sect Commander Cpl. T. Smithson. I was a Cpl from when the Platoon was formed to go to North Africa. Cpl. Gwatkin was ex 1st Battalion. Defence Platoon landed by glider at Arnhem.’ [1]

He returned across the Lower Rhine on the 25/26 September 1944.

Sometime after Arnhem he transferred to The Parachute Regiment, and went on to serve in Norway, on Operation ‘Doomsday’, in May – August 1945: ‘I went to Norway as the War ended and most of the Defence Platoon were killed in a plane crash.’ [1] & [2]

He was then promoted to Sergeant, and went on to serve in the 7th Bn, The Parachute Regiment, and with them he went to Palestine.

Tom was released to the Class Z Reserves on the 26 September 1946.

Thomas ‘Tom’ Smithson joined the Arnhem 1944 Veterans Club and took part in the Parachute Team jumps at Arnhem in September 1994 and September 2004.

Tom Smithson died on Sunday 20 March 2011, aged 87. A 'Celebration of His Life' was held for Tom at the Streetly Crematorium on 6 April 2011 by Re. Alan Bartlam. 

Written and Researched by Robert Hilton. Images courtesy of Giles Smithson, son of Tom.

NOTES:

[1] Letter from Tom Smithson to Bob Hilton. 12 November 1998.

[2] He is listed in The Parachute Regiment, Transfer & Enlistment Book 31, page 137, but that is not held in the Archives of the Airborne Assault Museum, Duxford.