SMITH, Lawrence George

Known as: 
Larry
Rank: 
Sergeant
Unit / Base: 
7 Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Tank Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Household Cavalry
Service: 
Army
Number: 
316217
P.O.W. number: 
8062
Born: 
Monday, August 11, 1913
Birthplace: 
Richmond Barracks, Dublin, Eire
Died : 
Saturday, March 30, 1996
Lawrence Smith 7 Commando
Sergeant Lawrence Smith was attested into the Royal Tank Corps on 28 October 1927 aged 14yrs 2 months, trade recorded as Musician [1].
In World War 2 he was reported missing on 20 April 1941 during operations with No.7 Commando in Cyrenaica (Bardia raid), later found to be a prisoner of war [2][3].
After his release and the end of hostilities on 22 August 1945 he transferred to the Royal Household Cavalry [1].
His younger brother Norman who was not a Commando died in the war [CWGC].
316722 Sergeant Norman Edward Alfred Smith
17/21st Lancers Royal Armoured Corps.
Born : 18th September 1915 Kildare, Wicklow, Ireland 
Enlisted : 15th October 1929 Age 14 
Died of wounds : 26th April 1943 Tunisia.
Extract from a Forum message about Larry
'Larry was a military man through and through, his father, uncle, and brother all having served. He was a fine clarinetist and worked as a professional musician and music educator. He played the clarinet and was an assistant director in the Royal Life Guards Band while serving in the Household Cavalry. When he retired from military life, he and his family emigrated to Canada in 1951, and then to the United States. While I knew him, he and his family lived in Connecticut, a northeastern state just north of New York City. Upon his retirement he lived happily with his small family - his Scottish wife May, and Gordon, their only son who died in 2017' [4].
 
Sources
[1] Royal Tank Corps Enlistment Records, 1919-1934.
[2] Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/24 and WO417/30.
[3] Prisoners of War / National Archives file WO392/1.
[4] [image] CVA Forum message [view....].
 

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