Smith, R
(1892 - 1916)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
25th October 1892
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1905 - 1910
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
Beechwood, Brighton Road, Sutton, Surrey
REGIMENT
Royal Flying Corps
FINAL RANK:
Lieutenant
DATE OF DEATH:
20th December 1916
AGE AT DEATH:
24
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
Velu
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Achiet-Le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension. II. M. 20.
Lieutenant Reginald Smith
Reginald was born on October 25th 1892, the son of Hamilton Smith, and his wife, Rachel. He came to the College in the spring of 1905, where he would later be joined by two younger brothers, John and Francis, and was a pupil at Dulwich for the next five years. After leaving in 1910 he became a qualified member of both the Auctioneers’ and Surveyors’ Institutes.
In July 1915 Reginald enlisted as a member of the Inns of Court O.T.C. and was gazetted to a commission in the East Surrey Regiment a year later. A month after taking his commission he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and began to undergo training as a pilot. He qualified on November 22nd that year and travelled over to France a week later. On December 20th he was killed when, whilst flying an offensive patrol, his plane came down behind enemy lines, burning fiercely.
