Chapter 1 - Volunteer Service

 

 

 

 

Stephen Fraser Smith and twin sister, Elisabeth Margaret, were born on 15th January 1917 to parents Clara Jane Smith and William Henry Smith. They had two older brothers, Philip (born 5/4/06), andWilliam Stewart (born 1/12/12).

Stephen's death in 1943 would have been even more cruel for his parents who had previously lost a daughter, Mary, (born 18/5/09, died 15/10/09) following an infected smallpox vaccination. They had also lost a son, Geofrey Forster, (born 14/9/01, died 15/12/21) following a climbing accident which resulted in gangrene in one leg.

 

The picture shows the twins, Stephen and Eleizabeth Margaret at about age four.

 

 

 

His father ran the family business of J& H Smith which sold ironmongery and hardware etc. in Leeds. Stephen grew up at the family home Pelton Cottage, Manley Grove, Ben Rhydding, near Ilkley in Yorkshire.

Unlike his brothers who were educated at Ilkley Grammar School, Stephen was sent to Pocklington School near the city of York between 1928 (age 11) and 1934 (age 17). School records show that throughout his time at Pocklington he became an accomplished actor, and enjoyed swimming and rugby football. In rugby he went on to represent his school in the First 15 team. It is also clear from his letters that he developed a love for classical music, for poetry and for beautiful scenery.

 

This picture shows Stephen in 1932 (age 15) in the garden at Pelton Cottage

 

 

 

School records [27] indicate that other membersof the team were also to die in war.

Team captain, E.G. Petrie was killed in the Spanish civil war.

Pietro Giovetti joined the RAF and died in September1941. His grave is in South Kyme, Lincolnshire.

Asheliegh Thorpe trained as adoctor rising to the rank of Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was killed in 1943 in Sicily.

 

 

(Image kindly provided by Pocklington School)

 

 

 

His elder brother, Philip, emigrated in 1928 to become a farmer in Kenya whilst Stephen and his brother William were intended to take over the running of the family business.

 

War, however, was to intervene.

 

This image shows Stephen in 1935 with his baby nephew, Geofrey, and his parents

 

 

 

At 11 a.m. on September 3rd 1939 Prime Minister Chamberlain declared war with Germany as from 5 p.m. that day.  

Within twenty four hours the RAF bombed German warships at the entrance to the Kiel Canal.  The war in Europe was to continue until May 8th 1945 while hostilities against Japan were to continue until VJ day on 2nd September.  In those fateful six years an estimated 55 million lives were lost.  RAF Bomber Command lost 55,573 crew members [1]. In addition, bomber crews who flew from bases outside Britain also suffered significant losses.  Just one of those who perished was Stephen Fraser Smith.

 

By 1940 Britain had experienced the "phoney war" and it was becoming increasingly obvious that the country might be invaded. There were calls for a defence force to be established (later to become known as the Local Defence Volunteers then the Home Guard). The Battle of France officially ended when Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in his famous "This was their finest hour" speech in June, went on to say that "I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin".

 

Like so many of his contemporaries and possibly inspired by a sense of national duty or perhaps hoping for adventure, Stephen volunteered for service in the Royal Air Force.  Aged 23, he enlisted as an Aircrafthand/SP (Service number 991606) on the 4th April 1940 at Number 3 Recruitment Centre, Padgate near Warrington.  Doubtless disappointed, but until his training could start, he was immediately placed on the reserve.  His Statement of Service [2] shows that he attended Number 9 Recruitment Centre, Blackpool on 28th August.  

 

He was then recorded as being sent on 21st September to Number 4 Radio Servicing School at Madley near Hereford and, just five months later, being posted as a ground tradesman to 73 Signals Wing on 17th February 1941.  This unit was subsequently renamed No 4 Radio Maintenance Unit and, on 6th February 1941 to No 73 Signals Wing.  It would seem, then, that the two entries in Stephen's record referred in fact to just one posting.  No 4 Signals Unit was established at RAF Church Fenton, near Tadcaster in Yorkshire, to care for technical servicing of Chain Home and Chain Home Low radar sites at Danby Beacon (Yorks), Stenigot (Lincs), Staxton Wold (Yorks), Bempton (Flamborough, Yorks), Easington (probably Spurn Head), Skendleby (Lincs). It initially employed one officer and 31 'other ranks'.  As its role grew it soon outlived its on-station accommodation and on 19th August 1940 took up residence in a large country house namely "the Towers" in the nearby village of Barkston Ash.  Still growing, but now as 73 Signals Wing, Stephen's unit set up a new headquarters at Easthorpe Hall which was taken over from its then owner Lady Grimthorpe.

 

Stephen's Statement of Service lists him as RAF VR which means he had volunteered for aircrew service. On 21st July 1941 he was listed as Under Training as an Observer at Number 1 Aircrew Reception Centre [2]. This was seemingly at Regents Park in London. He was then transferred to Number 2 Initial Training Wing on 23rd August. On 29th November he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman. No 2 Initial Training Wing (Renamed from No 1) was based at Cambridge. "Cadets" as the entrants were known for reasons of morale, were first processed through the Receiving Centre for 2 weeks before a further 8 weeks within Initial Training. They received instruction on such subjects as Discipline, General Service, and technical training in Mathematics, Navigation, Armaments and Signals.