Airborne Assault MuseumArticle
Italy
The Italians had capitulated while the force was still at sea. The sinking of HMS Abdiel by a mine in the harbour, however, r...
Benjamin William Smith was the son of Edward and Daisy Smith; and husband of Eileen Phyllis Smith, of Chatham.He signed up with relative Samuel Paine to the Royal Artillery (RA) and later served with 2nd Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery RA, serving in North Africa and taking part in the Italian campaign where he survived the sinking HMS Abdiel. Sadly his relative Gunner Sam Paine was killed during the sinking of the HMS Abdiel
L/Bdr Smith was injured during a training exercise in Harrowby, Licolnshire, when a Sten Gun was dropped and he was shot through the neck on 5 May 1944.
L/Bdr Smith died 2 days later, aged 32 years, and is now buried in the Maidstone Road Cemetery, Chatham.
Service History
- Date not known 2nd Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery RA (Lance Bombardier)
- 1942 2nd Oban RA , 1st airborne div (Lance Bombardier)
- 1942 https://paradata.org.uk/units/2nd-airlanding-anti-tank-battery-ra-0 (Lance Bombardier)
