Frank (Fred) Smith |
Fred Smith was born on the 13th October 1910 in Liverpool
and eventually joined the 2nd Battalion XX The Lancashire Fusiliers in 1926
as a Band Boy, He was duly posted to India and had been promoted to the rank
of L/Cpl by 1931. Fred returned from India via Palestine in 1935 eventually
to Colchester, England.
At the outbreak of the war Fred left the Band to go on active service being
promoted to Sgt and eventually Company Sgt Major to Captain Kevin Hill, (as
he was then), in 'C' Company still with the 2nd Battalion. He saw service in
France, North Africa, Sicily and Italy and was with Frank Jefferson at Cassino
when Frank won his VC. Fred was also 'Mentioned in Despatches'
At the end of the war the 2nd Battalion was disbanded and Fred left the Lancashire
Fusiliers along with Jim Brackley and Mick Higgins to join the Band of the Royal
Corps of Signals for the next five years, after all they were superb musicians.
In 1952 Fred learned that the 2nd Battalion was reforming and rejoined them
at Bulford in Wiltshire. He was to become Sgt of the Mortar platoon in Support
Company and that is were I first had the pleasure of meeting him and found him
to be a very nice man, no one could ever fall out with Fred. However a short
time afterwards the 2nd Battalion were recruiting for a new band and although
being reluctant to leave my new Sgt, I volunteered. I lined up in the NAFFI
and was called behind a screen to be interviewed and to my amazement who should
be there with Band/Sgt Ernie Wharton was none other than Fred Smith. We returned
to Bury to complete reformation of the band and Fred succeeded Ernie Wharton
as Band/Sgt. Then off to Trieste only to be disbanded again in 1955. Fred subsequently
joined the 1st Battalion and left in 1959. He went on to help with the 5th Battalion
in Bury. He took a job in civilian life with Walmersley's Paper Mill in Bury
but never left his attachment with the Lancashire Fusiliers.
In 1982 Fred had a stroke which was to happen at the funeral of Francis Jefferson
VC and although living for another 24 years never really recovered, being nursed
by his wife Ivy, herself a former nurse, until such time he had to go into residential
care in 2004, this was fortunately situated next to Wellington Barracks and
I was able to visit him there. Fred never really lost all his faculties for
an elderly gentleman, his recognition was quite good but it became difficult
to hold a conversation with him.
Fred died on the 23rd January 2006 aged 95 years, a loving husband, dad and
grandad and a friend to all who had the pleasure to know him. A true Lancashire
Fusilier.