Smith, Albert

Date of birth:: August 12th, 1920 (Fredericton/New Brunswick, Canada)
Date of death:: June 13th, 1943 (Fleringen/Overijssel, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Roman Catholic Cemetery Reutum
Row: U. Grave: 5.
Service number:: J/15771
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Albert was born on August 12 1920 in Fredericton New Brunswick, the son of Harry Robert Smith and Phyllis Smith (deceased) of Dunbarton Ontario. They were married on October 11 1919 in Toronto. His stepmother was Mae Smith.
His English girlfriend was Ruby Harding of Earby England and they had in the meantime a little son Michael and Albert was therefore intended to marry her but unfortunately deceased before.
He was a truck driver and member of the Church of England. His sports were boxing, swimming, rugby and baseball.

He enlisted on August 29 1939 in Toronto and the date is unknown when he went thereafter overseas to the UK.

Albert was killed in action on Sunday June 13 1943 age 22 due to a crash at the Stouweweg Frontrotsbeek Fleringen (Tubbergen) before or after an attack on Bochum in Germany.
The other fallen RCAF crew member was F/O Murray D.S. Hicks age 36 in grave U-1 and the other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew member was F/Lt Philip J. Stone (DFC) age 25 in grave U-3.
The other fallen RAF crew members were Sgt Aubrey Hunter age 22 in grave U-4 and F/Sgt Alan J. Mills in grave U-2. The other RAF crew members survived the crash and they became then prisoners of war: P/O W. J. Glenn (DFM) and P/O W.T. Batson (DFM).

He was awarded on December 26 1942 The Distinguished Flying Cross.
He served with the 50 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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