SMITH, James

Known as: 
Jimmy
Rank: 
Troop Sergeant Major
Unit / Base: 
1 Commando
Service: 
Army
Born: 
Monday, January 17, 1916
Died : 
January, 1982
CSM Jimmy Smith 1 Commando
Served in 3 Troop. Married Betty in 1938 in Leighton Buzzard. CSM Jimmy Smith produced the 'Commando Performance' a series of entertainment productions that commenced in February 1943 at Sedjenane and concluded in India. Post war Jimmy performed all over the UK as an entertainer, illusionist, and magician, his stage name being De Sevia. He died in 1982 leaving a widow and three children. Member of the Commando Association residing Brixton, London.
Commando Association newsletter 31
"CSM Jimmy Smith, known to most members of No. 1 Commando as 'De Sevia the magician', is still appearing at variety theatres in most of the large cities and towns in this country."
 
Sources
Commando Association newsletters 6 (1948), 31 (1960) and Obituaries in newsletter 77 (1983).
His nephew Steven James Smith.
Numerous newspaper reports including The Stage 16 January 1958 below.
No.1 Commando Concert Programme (Linked Content below).
[Image] Identified in the No.1 Cdo panorama 1943 image in gallery by his daughter Pamela.

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