Smart, John Christopher
Age: 18
Date of birth: 12th May 1926
Parents: Henry Fred and Amy Beatrice Smart (nee Golding) of Lakeview, Ontario, Canada
Wife: Single
Address: Unknown
Occupation: Truck Driver
John was born in Toronto on 12th May 1926. His father, Henry Fred (1882-1943) was born in Dublin and was a factory worker. He was a veteran of the Boer War and WW1. His mother Amy Beatrice was born in 1890 in Essex. They married in York, Ontario on 19th July 1919.
John had one sister and four brothers Robert, David, Albert and Fred.
Military Service
Rank & Number: Sergeant Air Gunner, R287355
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
Brigade/Division: Based at Wellesbourne Mountford, Warwickshire 22 Operational Training Unit Bomber Command
Date of death: 18th December 1944
Cause of death/Battle: Killed in a flying accident
Commemorated/Buried: Buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey
Awards:
Commemorated locally at: All Saints Church, RAF Wellesbourne Roll of Honour
Aged 16, John joined the Merchant Navy as a saloon boy. He enlisted into the Canadian Air Force in May 1943.
John was killed in flying accident. His plane, a Wellington X, dived into the ground near Chipping Warden Airfield, Northants – 6 miles North East of Banbury – during a night crossing country exercise.
Contributors
- Unlocking Warwick Research Group