Smith, Lawrence Lindsay

Date of birth:: January 22nd, 1923 (Eganville/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:: May 24th, 1944 (Asten/North Brabant, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery Jonkerbos
Plot: 24. Row: F. Grave: 7.
Service number:: J/25520
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Lawrence was born on January 22 1923 in Eganville Ontario, the son of the Revd. Lawrence Bradbury Smith (English), B.A., B.D., and Lillian Frances Smith nee Casselman (deceased) of Clarke Ontario. They were married on June 2 1919 in Brockville Ontario.

He was a tool keeper and member of the United Church. His sports were track, swimming, skating and softball and his hobby was photography.

He enlisted on March 2 1942 in Ottawa and he went on July 1 1943 thereafter overseas to the UK.

Lawrence was killed on action on Wednesday May 24 1944 age 21 due to a crash at the place of Asten, the province of Noord-Brabant before or after an attack on Essen in Germany. He was temporarily buried then at the Military Cemetery in Venlo before being reburied on August 28 1947 at the Jonkerbos War Cemetery.

The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members and also temporarily buried in Venlo were P/O George E. Nicholls age 32 in grave 24-F-4, Sgt Roy W. Laybourne age 21 in grave 24-F-6, F/O Alfred T. McKay age 21 in grave 24-F-3, Sgt Alexander S. McJannett age 21 in grave 24-F-2, Sgt Alexander K. Shiels age 21 in grave 24-F-5 and Sgt Harold E. Dyerson age 32 in grave 24- F-1.

On his headstone: "LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD"

He is commemorated on the Brockville Collegiate Institute and Vocational School Roll of Honour.

He is mentioned with the other fallen crew members at a monument near Asten.

He served with the 12 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.