Peter Harold SMITH

Peter Harold SMITH Update Details

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SMITH, Peter Harold

Service Number:	407209
Enlisted:	20 July 1940
Last Rank:	Sergeant
Last Unit:	No. 458 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Henley Beach Adelaide, South Australia , 24 May 1920
Home Town:	Glenelg, Holdfast Bay, South Australia
Schooling:	Mount Gambier Convent School and Marist Brother's College
Occupation:	Clerk
Died:	Flying Battle, Fife Head Magdalen Wood Dorset United Kingdom, 9 January 1942, aged 21 years
Cemetery:	Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Plot 4. Row H. Grave 17
Memorials:	Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brighton Glenelg District WW2 Honour Roll, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial

World War 2 Service

20 Jul 1940:	Involvement Sergeant, 407209
20 Jul 1940:	Enlisted Adelaide
20 Jul 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 407209
9 Jan 1942:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 407209, No. 458 Squadron (RAAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45
Date unknown:	Involvement

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

SGT. PETER SMITH KILLED IN ENGLAND
Word has been received in Mount Gambier that Sgt. Wireless Air Gunner Peter Smith has been killed, in air manoeuvres in England. This is the second R.A.A.F. casualty from this town. Aged only 21 years, Sgt. Smith was well known here a few years ago, having been, a pupil at the Convent School and Marist Brothers' College, but went to Adelaide with his parents about six years ago.
His father, the late Mr. H. R. Smith, who served with the First A.I.F., represented the International Harvester Company here for some years. Sgt. Smith enlisted in Adelaide, and was one of the first to be selected to go to Canada for training in October, 1940, and he reached England on the eve of his 21st birthday in May, 1941. While in Mount Gambier the family lived in Bay Road in the house next to Mr.G. W. Arthur's residence, and Sgt. Smith was well known to the late L.A.C. Col. Arthur.
It is a tragic coincidence that the first two Air Force casualties from Mount Gambier should have been neighbours and friends. Sgt. Smith was not a member of the regular crew of the plane in which he was killed, but when a vacancy occurred immediately prior to the take-off he volunteered and was accepted. Much sympathy will be extended to his mother, Mrs. K. Smith, of Glenelg, in her sad loss.

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