Lance Corporal Reuben GE Smith

Reuben Gerald Edward Smith was born on the 4th April 1916. Before he joined the Army he worked as a builders labourer, was married and had a daughter. 

He enlisted into The Royal Sussex Regiment on the 20th June 1940. [1]

Reuben is likely to have served with one of the battalion’s in the 133rd Infantry Brigade of the 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division in the western desert campaign, from May 1942 until early 1943.

He was a Lance Corporal, aged 27, when he volunteered for Airborne Forces and did Parachute Course K28 at Ramat David, in Palestine, 24th March to the 2nd April 1943. [2]

He had a younger brother - Walter Stanley John - who, later, joined the 11th Parachute Battalion.

He served in the Mortar Platoon, 10th Parachute Battalion and probably took part in Operation ‘Slapstick’, which was the naval landing at the Italian port of Taranto in September 1943.

In November he sailed, with his battalion, back to the United Kingdom, arriving at Liverpool on the 9th December 1943. The 10th Parachute Battalion was billeted in Somerby and some of the surrounding villages in Leicestershire.

On Monday, 18 September 1944, he took off in a Dakota aircraft of the 315th Troop Carrier Group, USAAF from Spanhoe aerodrome, bound for DZ Y in Holland as part of the 2nd Lift of Operation ‘Market-Garden’.

He was slightly wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Arnhem, and initially sent to Stalag 12A at Limburg. POW No.  89538. On the 6 October 1944 he was transported to Stalag 4B at Mühlberg in Germany. On the 17 October he was moved to Stalag 4D at Torgau, and remained there until liberated in April 1945.    

A short account appeared in The Worthing Gazette, 18 Oct 1944:

"MEN OF ARNHEM.

Two Worthing Brothers In Missing List.

Added to the list of local lads who went through the hell at Arnhem are two Worthing brothers, former pupils of Elm-grove School. They are Private Reuben and Sergeant Jack Smith, both serving with the Airborne Troops. Reuben’s wife lives at 37, Fircroft Avenue, North Lancing, and their mother resides at 218, Ham-road. Both are reported as missing, presumed prisoners-of-war at Arnhem.

They joined up together nearly two years ago and went through the African Campaign, Reuben going through Italy as well. Prior to joining up they were in the building trade. Private R. Smith married and has two children.

Mrs. Smith received the official notice on Monday, and their mother received hers on Friday.

WOUNDED AT DUNKIRK.

Sergeant Jack Smith was wounded first when he struggled through the hell of Dunkirk and again at Alamein when his hand and arm were badly hurt, having nearly a hundred minute pieces of shrapnel in his flesh. He went with the 8th Army as far as Sicily, then he came home and joined the Parachute Regiment, and about two months ago was promoted to Sergeant.

He went on Sunday and dropped at Arnhem, and has since been reported missing.

Jack, who holds the Africa Star and the 8th Army Star, was a master plasterer and worked for several Worthing firms before he joined up in 1939."

Reuben transferred back to The Royal Sussex Regiment on the 30th August 1945. [1]

Reuben Smith died in December 2005.

NOTES:

[1] The Parachute Regiment, Transfer & Enlistment Book 09, page 20.

[2] Parachute Course Report. April 1943.