Sergeant Harold W Smith

Sgt. Harold Smith of F Squadron, 2nd Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment (GPR) was killed in action about the 22nd September 1944 at Oosterbeek where the remnants of the Ist Airborne Division were surrounded. In civilian life, he had been a printer and in his free time was a keen cyclist with his sister. He was educated at Ashton-under-Lyne Grammar School from 1929 to 1933. He lived with his parents on Brinnington Road, Stockport, Cheshire.

Harold was called up in March 1940 into the 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI). His war service record shows he trained until 19th October 1940 & then was sent to Iceland. Two battalions of the DLI, the 10th & 11th were sent as part of the occupying force to deny the enemy the use of Iceland. He was there until 22nd December 1941 apart from a leave period in the UK in the middle. On the 25th October 1942 he transferred to the 2nd Battalion / Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, Army Air Corps. His sister Amy said that he wanted to fly prior to joining the Army and that flying gliders was near to it & that occupation duty in Iceland was not doing enough. Harold took the Army Glider Pilot Training Course & received the Army Flying badge. His record says Army Glider Training Course: army Flying Badge 11th November 1943 - 165/43, 2nd Glider Pilot Bn.

He seems to have flown by Glider from Broadwell (Chalk numbers 816 – 833) landing on Landing Zone – S at Wolfheze, near Oosterbeek into the Market Garden Arnhem action on the 18th September 1944, the second ‘lift’. His glider was probably carrying troops from the South Staffordshire Regiment.

Harold was reported missing on the 25th September 1944 , the war records say presumed killed on or after 22/9/44. He was 26. His body was found buried in the garden of Pietersberg House (or Hotel) in 1945 & transferred to the Oosterbeek CWGC Cemetery on the 3rd September that year as being an unknown soldier. He was identified from dental records some time later. It is not known where or how he died though his parents inquired within the unit and with survivors . They had previously inquired of the War Office and survivors to see if he had been captured or held elsewhere.

He is buried in Grave 22.B.19 at the Oosterbeek CWGC Cemetery His parents had the following inscription placed on Harold’s Gravestone at Oosterbeek, “ WE MUST BE FREE OR DIE, WHO SPEAK THE TONGUE THAT SHAKESPEARE SPAKE". He is commemorated both at the Stockport War Memorial and at his old School in Ashton under Lyme.

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