Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Corporal

Unit:

4th Battalion The Dorsetshire Regiment, 130th Infantry Brigade, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, British Army

Awarded on:

March 1st, 1945

Awarded for:

Operation Market Garden

On the 25th September 1944 during the assault crossing of the Neder Rijn, Corporal Smith and five men of his section were left behind as his boat was overloaded. He immediately searched and found another boat and took his men across. After several encounters with the enemy, being unable to find the rest of his Company, he took up a defensive position at dawn which he held till the following night when he received orders to withdraw. He again searched and found an abandoned boat in which he brought his party back.

Two nights later he volunteered to cross the river in company with an officer to search for stragglers. Throughout the entire operation Corporal Smith showed exceptional coolness and powers of leadership."