SMITH, James Thomas Richardson

Rank: 
Sergeant
Unit / Base: 
46RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
PO/X 105988
Born: 
Sunday, October 23, 1921
Birthplace: 
Stokesley, Yorkshire
Died : 
Sunday, June 11, 1944
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
22
Cemetery/Memorial: 
Sgt JTR Smith 46RM Commando
Sergeant James Smith, 'B' troop, died during operations at Rots and Le Hamel, France.
 
Mne. A.W. Pettey of 'A' troop recalls "We come to a large cornfield my orders being in charge of the 2 inch mortar is to range on the hedgerow so that any Jerries who could be in this cover will keep their heads down while the troops move through the cornfield. The first bombs I fire are smoke and things are running smoothly. Unfortunately when our lads move out of the cornfields the Germans open up with machine guns and mortars causing casualties. I manage to fire some more smoke bombs but realise I have started too late. As I look along the hedge I see  Marine Reuben Garlick (Curly), Sgt James Smith, Sgt George Rowe and several others of our troop all laid down and in a firing position, motionless, all dead! Later I crawl out to see if Curly is still alive but he has been shot through the eye, I can see he and the others have gone from us."
 
Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/137.
The Story of 46 Commando Royal Marines by Capt Johnson RM.
Mne Pettey via Keith Taylor (Friends and family of 46RM Commando.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 

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