Ten: Warrant Officer S. W. E. Smith, Royal Air Force, late King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and Somerset Light Infantry

1914-15 Star (10546, Pte. W. E. Smith, Som. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (10546 Pte. S. W. E. Smith. K.S.L.I.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1935 (349966 F/Sgt. S. W. E. Smith. R.A.F.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (349966. F/Sgt. S. W. E. Smith. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (W/O S. W. E. Smith (349966). R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (349966. F/Sgt. S. W. E. Smith. R.A.F.) note initials to first, very fine and better (10) £400-£500

Sydney William Edward Smith was born in the Parish of Fenton, Staffordshire, on 6 June 1897. A baker and confectioner by trade, he falsified his age and attested at Shrewsbury for the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry on 10 August 1914. Posted to France on 1 June 1915, five days short of his 18th birthday, Smith was soon temporarily attached to the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry which had suffered grievous losses during the Second Battle of Ypres from 22 April to 25 May 1915. Raised Lance Corporal on 4 September 1915, he returned to the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and travelled with the 2nd Battalion to Salonika. Serving as part of 80th Brigade, 27th Division, Smith spent the next three years fighting Bulgarian Forces on the Struma Front, being present at the capture of Yenikoi and the Battle of Tumbitza Farm.

Appointed Transport Sergeant, Smith struggled with malaria and a dislocated right foot, the latter caused by a mule. He returned to England in the summer of 1918 and joined the Royal Air Force on 5 October 1921, his trade on entry being described as aircrafthand and wireless operator. Joining 11 Squadron at Netheravon on 11 February 1925, Smith spent the next few years gaining experience of a wide variety of aircraft including the Fairey Fawn and Hawker Horsley. Sent to Iraq with 6 Squadron on 21 October 1927, he was raised Flight Sergeant on 20 December 1927 and joined 84 Squadron at Shaibah on 1 August 1928.

Awarded the L.S.G.C. Medal on 27 April 1936, Smith served at Tangmere on the permanent staff from 27 May 1938. He spent much of the Second World War stationed at various maintenance units and elementary flight training schools, before being sent overseas to South East Asia Command, Ceylon, on 3 September 1944. Transferred to the Signals Centre at Colombo, followed by Singapore Island, he served during the Malayan Emergency, ensuring the effective maintenance of Beaufighter, Sunderland, Spitfire and Mosquito aircraft, which were essential for operations against Malayan communist insurgents.

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