Sergeant William H Smith

William Harold Smith enlisted into The Leicestershire Regiment before volunteering to airborne forces in 1943.

Sergeant Smith successfully completed parachute training on 20 December 1943. It was noted that Sergeant Smith "improved to a good standard"

He was posted to the 10th Parachute Battalion (10th Para Bn). He served as a Platoon Sgt on Operation Market Garden with 11 Platoon, B Company.

Sgt Smith was wounded when shot in the wrist, he was taken Prisoner of War and sent to Stalag VIIIC near Sagan, Germany. In early February 1945, many of the prisoners were forced marched westwards. On this march Sgt Smith fell ill and died of dysentery on 5 March 1945, aged 27 years old. He is now buried in Hanover War Cemetery, Germany.

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Headstone image provided by Bob Hilton.