Smith, Frederick John

Date of birth:: October 31st, 1920 (London/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:: October 31st, 1942
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Gendringen
Row: A. Grave: 20.
Service number:: R/78895
Nationality:: Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

Frederick was born on October 31 1920 in London, Ontario, the son of Wilfred Lyman Smith (deceased at age 38) and Florence Annie Smith nee Booth (English) of Byron, Ontario. He had one brother.

He was a woodworker and member of the United Church. His sports were swimming, skating, baseball, hockey and skiing and his hobby also was woodworking.

He enlisted on December 31 1940 in London Ontario and he went thereafter on February 4 1942 overseas to the UK.

Frederick was killed in action on Saturday October 31 1942, just on his 22nd birthday due to a crash near Meghelen municipality Gendringen. The other fallen RAF crew member was Sgt Henry J. Brook age 25 in grave A-18 and the other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members were F/O Jack Towner age 23 in grave A-19, P/O John S. Lee age 22 in grave A-21 and Sgt Ronald G.J. Hillyer age 19 in grave A-17.

On his headstone: YOUR KNIGHTLY VIRTUE PROVED, YOUR MEMORY HALLOWED IN THE LAND YOU LOVED

His name is mentioned with the other fallen RAF crew members on a monument near the crash site in Gendringen.

He served with the 150 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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