• Normandy Massacres

Date of birth:

January 4th, 1925 (Toronto/Ontario, Canada)

Date of death:

June 8th, 1944 (France)

Buried on:

Canadian War Cemetery Beny-sur-mer
Plot: XIII. Row: D. Grave: 11.

Service number:

B/138331

Nationality:

Canadian

Richard George Smith was the son of Minnie Smith and the late George Smith. Before enlisting in the Canadian Army, Richard lived at 395A Danforth Avenue in Toronto and held various jobs including lockerman and clerk at the YMCA, baker’s helper at Canada Bread, and welder’s helper at Massey-Harris and John Woods.

Richard had a modest educational background, having attended public school where he struggled with arithmetic and spelling but was considered alert and responsive. He enjoyed good health despite being underweight, which placed him in medical category A2. His hobbies included boxing, handball, swimming, and building model airplanes. He was described as a slim young man of neat appearance and pleasant manner, enthusiastic about joining the Army.

He enlisted on January 11, 1943, and was assigned regimental number B138331. Richard served as a private in the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, part of the Canadian Active Service Force. He underwent basic training at Camp Borden and was later posted to Sussex, New Brunswick. Though he had hoped for trade training, he accepted a role as a non-tradesman infantry soldier.

During World War II, Richard was deployed to the Western European Theatre. On June 8, 1944, he was reported missing in action during the Normandy campaign. The Army Council later concluded that he had been murdered by Waffen-SS soldiers on that date.

In his last will, Richard bequeathed his entire estate to his mother, who was also named executrix. The estate amounted to $36.59. The Canadian government covered his funeral expenses. A Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Minnie Smith.

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