Private Cyril E Smith

Cyril Ernest Smith, son of William and Ellen Smith, of Watford, Hertfordshire; husband of Gwen Smith, of Southsea, Hampshire, enlisted in the Royal Engineers and then volunteered for airborne forces.

Private Smith successfully completed his parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 14 from 25 May to 4 June 1942, and was posted to 7 Platoon, S Company, 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment. He took part in the campaigns in Italy and Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Pte Smith was killed in action on 18 September 1944, aged 31, in the area of the railway viaduct over Utrechtseweg and is commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial to the missing.

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