Pilot Officer Ray Branton Smith
Pilot Officer Ray Branton Smith was born on February 6th, 1920 in Harmony Mills to James and Rhoda (nee Brooks) Smith. Ray had two sisters, Margaret and Shirley, and a brother James who died in infancy. A Baptist, Ray enjoyed outdoor hobbies of fishing, hunting, skating and swimming, and was especially fond of photography including developing and printing photos. He was working as a miner in Timmons Ontario when he enlisted. Ray stood 5 feet 10 ½ inches tall (179 cm), weighed 154 pounds (70 kg), and had blue eyes and brown hair.
Ray Smith enlisted in the RCAF on June 6th, 1940, and was given Service number J/15451. The recruiter noted that he was “keen to become a pilot”. He was given the rank of Leading Aircraftman (LAC) during training.
Leading Aircraftman Smith’s flying training took him all over Canada over the next fifteen months, primarily flying the Anson I aircraft. He was promoted to Air Sergeant when he was awarded his Air Gunner’s Badge on December 23rd, 1940. Air Sergeant Smith was posted to England on March 2nd, 1941 to begin his conversion training to fly the Lancaster bomber, and he was promoted to Flight Sergeant when he received his Pilot’s Wings on September 1st, 1941. Flight Sergeant Smith had done exceptionally well in training and had been at the top of his class in two phases.
Flight Sergeant Smith completed his training as a Lancaster pilot on December 21st, 1941, and was posted to 106 Royal Air Force Squadron to begin flying bombing runs over the German homeland. On May 1st, 1942, he was commissioned from the ranks to become Pilot Officer Smith.
On July 26th, 1942, Pilot Officer Smith’s aircraft was part of a formation that took off from Coningsby, Lincolnshire to bomb military targets in Duisburg, Germany. Pilot Officer Smith perished when his aircraft exploded in mid-air while outbound over mudflats near Boston Borough, England, killing all seven crew members. He was 22 years old, and he was the first North Queens casualty of World War Two.
Pilot Officer Smith’s mother Rhoda was sent a letter on July 27th from the Squadron Commander, who explained the circumstances of the crash and assured her that the crew would have a funeral together “with Service honours”. He mentioned that individual identification would be impossible, and that “the kindest thing is for this crew, who flew and operated together against the enemy, should now rest together”.
Pilot Officer Smith bequeathed his estate to his mother, Rhoda. Rhoda Smith was awarded the Memorial Cross Medal (also known as the Silver Cross) and received Pilot Officer Smith’s war medals; the 1939-45 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star (for two months operational flying over Europe from Britain), the Defence Medal, the General Service Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (with Clasp). On March 22nd, 1946, Rhoda Smith received her son’s Operational Wings and “Certificate in recognition of the gallant services rendered by your son, Pilot Officer R.B. Smith”.
Pilot Officer Ray Smith is interred alongside his crewmates in Row 65, Grave 1293 at Coningsby Cemetery in Lincolnshire, England. His headstone is inscribed with “I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH”. He is also commemorated with a memorial headstone in the Harmony Cemetery, Harmony Mills.
Pilot Officer Ray Branton Smith is commemorated on page 115 of the World War Two Book of Remembrance. He is also listed on the Caledonia Cenotaph and at the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, Alberta.
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Online References
War Grave Search – https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2417228/ray-branton-smith/
Local Grave Search - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192546277/ray-branton-smith
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/32669963/ray-branton-smith
Canadian Virtual War Memorial - https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2417228?Ray%20Branton%20Smith
Second World War Personnel Records Database (file download size 13 Meg) - https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=kia&IdNumber=33206&ecopy=44486_83024005506_1143-00227
