Smuck, Alan Osborne

Date of birth:: April 21st, 1918 (Weston/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:: July 14th, 1943 (Drunen/North Brabant, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves General Cemetery Gilzerbaan
Plot: A. Row: 1. Grave: 29-30.
Service number:: J/15677
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Alan was born on April 21 1918 in in Weston, Ontario, the son of Stanley Allan Smuck and Annie Irene Smuck nee McEwen of Weston, Ontario.

He was married on October 9 1941 in Weston with Thelma Elizabeth Smuck nee Calhoun of Weston and their son was Alan Osborne Smuck (1942).

He was the brother of John Stanley Smuck (also in the army overseas).

He attended Weston Memorial Junior Public School from 1925 to 1933 and the Weston Collegiate from 1934 to 1939.
He worked as a sales clerk in 1939 at the Canada Cycle and Motor Company Ltd. until he enlisted in Toronto, Ontario on 8 January 1941. He enjoyed hockey, baseball and basketball.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

He went on October 23 1941 thereafter from Canada overseas to the UK.

Alan was killed in action on Wednesday July 14 1943 age 25 due to a crash at the hamlet of Fellenoord, municipality Drunen.

The other fallen RCAF crew member was F/Sgt Douglas G. McKay age 23 in grave A1-29-30.
The other fallen RCAF crew member WO II David L.G. Brown age 20 was temporarily buried in Tilburg before being reburied at the Bergen op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery in grave 5-G-8.
The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members were Sgt John Foggon age 19 in grave A1-29-30 and Sgt Robert Barneveld age 20 in grave A1-29-30.
RAF crew member F/O J.J. Kelly survived the crash and became then a prisoner of war and RAF crew member Sgt B. Domigan also survived the crash and he could evade then.

He served with the 408 Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.