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Cecil Frederick Christopher Smith (1923-1944)

Soldier
Service No:7951004
Rank:Trooper
Squadron:A
KIA:7 Sep 1944.
Burial:Schoonselhof Cemetery, Antwerp. Collective grave IV. E. 15-18. [Grave]
Commemorated:23H Memorial, Bridlington Priory [Panel]
Mentioned in:
23H Story
Page 272
Casualty List
Record
Civilian
Residence:118 Stanmer Villas, Brighton, Sussex
Birth:registered Jun 1923 in Lewes, Sussex
Parents
Robert SmithDorothy Victoria Christopher
Civil Servant.
118 Stanmer Villas, Brighton, Sussex (1939).
Birth 27 Feb 1892.
Death registered Mar 1971 in Brighton.
Birth 28 Jun 1897.
Death registered Feb 1993 in Brighton, Sussex.
Marriage registered Sep 1918 in Lewes, Sussex.

Notes

Cecil was a member of Lt Cottrell's crew who were all killed in Antwerp whilst baling out of their burning tank. The incident is described in the 23H Story, at the foot of Page 143.

We got out to greet the Squadron fitters with their recovery vehicle. It was able to stay on the metalled road but by means of a long towrope and winch pulled the two tanks out of the soft ground. Orders had been given to continue the advance but as soon as Lt. Cotterell's tank moved beyond the railway a German gun knocked it out and all members of the crew were killed.

Young Bertie, the memoirs of Bertie McCully, A Squadron

The crew members were: