大象传媒

This story has been submitted by Fred Smith's son Steven.

For as long as I can remember Dad has recounted his wartime stories whenever asked, usually to an audience of friends relations and grandchildren, amazing everyone with each escapade, remembered and described in detail and usually with a degree of humour salvaged from what must have been truly terrifying events. He was witness to a period in our history that shaped our country and the world we live in today. He would be the first to say that he was no hero, did not go looking for glory, and was no angel. He has said his main ambition once in the army was to get out. However, any man who volunteers for service in wartime risks paying the ultimate price and any man who does not realise this is a fool. Dad certainly is no fool. He was part of many battles that were pivotal in the fate of our country in some of the darkest periods of our history. He has shot, been shot at and was hit by enemy fire. He has seen friends and fellow soldiers die around him in battle. He has seen the results of modern warfare and weapons on both his own colleagues and the enemy. And he has seen first hand at Belsen the unimaginable and unspeakable depths of depravity that man inflicted on his fellow man. Yet through all of these experiences comes a willingness to put these events in perspective in his life, to put sad events behind him and continue. He has found a way of dealing with what he has experienced and how it has affected him and carried on with his life. He has done this without a trace of bitterness or hate. He continues to cheer us all with his sense of humour and optimistic outlook. He delights in his family and friends. Wherever he goes there is laughter. He is an example to us all. For these reasons alone he has every right to be described as a hero.

Volunteering.

Early in 1940, in answer to an advertisement for Aircraft Gunners, Fred attended the Princess Alice recruiting station at East Ham. He was told by the recruiting sergeant that 鈥渉e was not sufficiently educated to the Standard of Matriculation鈥� to be sat in the rear of a bomber behind a gun and be shot at! (Dads own words). He was not happy about this at the time but considering the survival rate for aircrew on bombers it was a very lucky decision for him. At the same recruiting station there was a notice saying the Navy required ships carpenters. He again volunteered for this but despite his high skill level from ten years in the furniture making trade was told it was specifically ships carpenters that were required. Once again, considering losses of men at sea it was probably another fortunate decision.

Fred had had enough of volunteering and decided to wait to be called up. He found a job in security at the Air Ministry in London until he received his call-up papers requiring him to report for Army training at Ludgershall near Andover on Salisbury Plain on 5th September 1940.

2.
Training.
At Ludgershall Fred (Trooper 7917726) underwent a general programme of fitness training, small arms practice and square bashing (marching and parade drill). He was then given his regiment which was an attachment to 22nd Armoured Brigade Headquarters at their base at Parkhatch House, Surrey. (Armoured Brigades were the army鈥檚 way of organising the relatively modern technology of tanks and armoured vehicles with other fighting men and infantrymen). Here he learned to drive a Bren Carrier (a small lorry used to tow a gun with wheels), 15cwt Lorries, scout cars and Cruiser Tanks. To this day Fred has never taken a regular driving test. He was also trained in firing Bren Guns and tank guns. To form a modern army 22nd Armoured Brigade was linked with the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades to form the soon to be famous 7th Armoured Division.

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