Born in Blenheim, ON.  The son of Henry and Barbara C. Smyth of 194 Queen St., Chatham; brother of Elizabeth (Beth) Smyth, of 194 ½  Queen St., Chatham and Robert of LaSalle, ON. He had been living in Chatham for fourteen years at the time of his enlistment he was living at 87 Harvey Street  prior to his death. Maurice attended Central School and C.V.S. and was employed by the Chrysler Corporation in Chatham.

Graduated AG at MacDonald MB. The brother of Beth Smyth of Queen St., Chatham.  He along with Sgt. Edward Dutton were visiting his sister for a couple of days.

He enlisted in February of 1942 and got his wings at MacDonald, Manitoba.  The CDN 8/04/43 reported that AC2 M. R. Smyth who was stationed at Edmonton, AB was spending a short leave at his home on Queen St.   He went overseas in March of 1944 as a Sgt Gunner flying with Goose Sqd. and was promoted to P/O. while in England.  Maurice was serving with the RCAF. CDN 17/04/44  He would be promoted to P/O. while in England.   Three other local men were serving in Goose Sqd. P/O. Norman Cross, F/O Norman Smith and Sgt. Robert Warren. Rank: Pilot Officer with  # 14 Service Flying Training School. Having completed thirty-five operational tours in the European theatre of war, surviving two forced landings behind enemy lines. The first “It was flak that brought us down at St. Trond Belgium, behind the US Army lines, near the town of Aachen, and all of the crew with the exception of P/O. Bill Scheer of Trail BC. another air gunner, escaped injury. P/O Sheer was hurt in the crash.” The second crash landing his aircraft was attacked  by an enemy air craft, the first and only time in his tour of operations. The bomber crash landed along the Rhine River this time behind the Canadian lines. F/O Smyth completed his tour of duty with 35 missions accomplished on flying in Halifax and Lancaster bombers. On 31 March, 1945 and was in London, England on VE-Day. Maurice reported that “Celebrations were long and varied but everyone enjoyed themselves.

Maurice was on an eighteen day leave before returning to Kingston to sign up for service in the Pacific.

Age: 20; DOAI – Date of Death: 10/07/1945.

Died in an automobile accident while on the way to St. Thomas. The truck he was riding in with four others left the road and rolled over into a ditch. Ronald Oldham was driving also injured were Jack Powers of Chatham, Miss Mary Laur of St. Thomas and Mrs. Hazel also of St. Thomas.

Sgt. RCAF. AG. 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Supplemental Information

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: North Half. Lot 435. Cemetery: BLENHEIM (EVERGREEN) CEMETERY.

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