The Meritorious Major.
Major Ronald Burdett Smith AMBIM Royal Engineers
The Man Ronald Burdett Smith was born on 3rd June 1924 at 18 College Avenue, Slough. Son of William Charles John, a Clerk with the Western Electric Company and Nelly Smith nee Burdett. Little is known about his early life except he lived in Eton, Buckinghamshire and on 2nd March 1939 at 9.00am aged only 14 he joined the Corps of Royal Engineers enlisting at Woolwich and with service number 1876549. He was described as being 5’.10½ “ tall with a fresh complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair and a blood group of A+. He served ‘at home’ as a Boy until his 18th birthday and during this time passed the Army Certificate of Education 2nd Class on 27th July 1939, later qualifying as an Electrician (Wireman) in July 1943 and Electrician (Maintenance) in April 1945. His official records state that following his 18th birthday he continued service in the United Kingdom being posted to North West Europe on 5th August 1944. However unattributed records say he was involved in the D Day landings in charge of a Sherman Tank on D + 6 in the 79th Royal Armoured Engineers Division, being-
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- wounded and evacuated back to the UK as the sole survivor. Having recovered he returned to North West Europe and was present at the liberation of Belsen and Auswitch. For his war time services he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, France & Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45. Following Victory inDay he was posted to India on 5th September 1945 where he served until 16th January 1949. The next three years were spent in the UK during which time he took the Forces Preliminary Examination and Army Certificate of Education 1st Class passing in all subjects. On 1st January 1951 Ronald Smith was posted to the British Army on the Rhine during which time he further qualified as a Plant Operator and electrician (PS). He returned to the UK on 23rd September 1957 and became a Military Plant Foreman spending the next eight years at home with another brief spell on the BAOR during 1964. He was awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (Military) in 1957 and promoted to Warrant Officer on 24th August 1959. No information about his earlier promotions being known. On 18th March 1958 he attended and passed a Crane Operator’s Course with Coles Cranes in Sunderland qualifying in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Line maintenance on L.96404. He married his wife Peggy during the late 1950s and they had one Son, Clifford who was born in 1961. On 7th July 1965 he was posted to Aden during the ‘South Arabia’ campaign and serving in the 10th Field Squadron (Airfields) RE. He returned home on 4th July 1967 and was awarded the Campaign Service Medal with South Arabia Clasp. On 5th July 1967 aged 43 he was discharged from the Army as a Warrant Officer Class I under Paragraph 503(xvii) QR 61 for the purpose of being appointed to a Commission.
At this time he had already served 28 years 126 days ‘in the ranks’ and was discharged in Brighton. His Commanding Officer’s assessment of his proficiency as a tradesman and ability to supervise said “WOI Smith has not used his secondary electrician trade for many years. Since 1950 he has been almost completely concerned with plant first as a Plant Inspector and the, since 1958, as a Military Plant Foreman. He knows his plant well and can organise a task efficiently. During the last two years he has been able to put his knowledge and ability to practical use in the field”. His assessment of Military Conduct & Character was given as exemplary and said “WO I Smith has a wide and detailed knowledge of all types of earthmoving plant and from 1958 to 1965 he was an instructor in this field. Since 1965 he has served with 10 Fd Sqn (Airfields) RE. During this time the Squadron has carried out a major airfield construction task in a lonely situation. WO I Smith’s knowledge and untiring work in keeping old and worn out plant working under arduous conditions has contributed largely to the success of the project. He has a pleasant but firm personality combined with initiative, drive and loyalty under all conditions”. This was signed by Major P W Hutchings RE, Kharmaksar, BFPO 69, Commanding Officer 10 Field Squadron (Airfields). Ronald was Commissioned into the Land Armies as a Second Lieutenant on 6th July 1967 aged 43 with the new service number 483604. He was immediately appointed Lieutenant and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal later the same year and promoted Captain (Quarter Master) on 1st May 1969.
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Four years later in September 1973 he became Commanding Officer of the Royal Engineer Central Engineer Park at Long Marston during which time he was responsible for levelling reclaimed land for a churchyard extension at St. Swithin’s Church in Quinton. He was finally promoted to Major (QM) on 25th December 1974. He lived locally at 41 Luddington Road, Stratford Upon Avon and in the London Gazette Supplement dated 16th August 1977 ws awarded the first clasp to his long service medal. On 12th October 1977 he was walking his dog near to his home when he collapsed and died of a heart attack aged 53. He was cremated and his ashes scattered at the Mid Warwickshire Crematorium at Oakley Wood, his details being recorded in the Book of Remembrance.
The Story This group acquired back in May 1996 came with several photographs and documents relating to Ronald Smith that enabled a basic biography to be built up. London Gazette entries also helped the process and a visit was made to Oakely Wood Crematorium where the book of remembrance containing his details was photographed. There is clearly a lot more that could be undertaken as these medals could be described as a 'modern' campaign group. It is also highly likely that his son Clifford Smith is still alive.
The Story This group acquired back in May 1996 came with several photographs and documents relating to Ronald Smith that enabled a basic biography to be built up. London Gazette entries also helped the process and a visit was made to Oakely Wood Crematorium where the book of remembrance containing his details was photographed. There is clearly a lot more that could be undertaken as these medals could be described as a 'modern' campaign group. It is also highly likely that his son Clifford Smith is still alive.
It was then re-designated a Railway Company in 1885 serving in the Boer War, Sudan and both World Wars. In 1956 the Sqn was sent to Singapore and again re-designated this time as a Port Squadron and disbanded in 1964. In November 1964 it was re-formed as 10Field Squadron (Airfields) and moved to Aden/Gulf remaining there until 1969. Between 1969 and 1973 N. Ireland and British Honduras took up most of the squadrons manpower. From 1973 the unit returned to supporting the RAF in the Harrier Support role until it was disbanded in 1993 having been stationed in both Laarbruch and Gutersloh. The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recognised the request from the RAF for more Royal Engineer support during operations. It agreed to the formation of 2 further Engineer Field Squadrons to support the RAF. All RAF stations where requested to look at their real estate with the view to housing an Air Support Squadron. With the demise of 234 Fd Sqn (Air Sp) (V), Leeming had an area. 2 years of planning and 12 months construction sees 10 Field Squadron located at the south-west corner of the station. As Royal Engineers they are expected to be Soldiers first, Combat Engineers secondly and finally a Tradesman. Each member of the Squadron has a trade and the range is diverse, from Driver to Draughtsman, Storeman to Surveyor. The Squadron presently has an all up strength of 172 with the capability to move as an independent unit anywhere in the world in support of the RAF and possible tasks on deployment could be: Design and construction of living accommodation, runway repairs, aircraft accommodation, construction of fuel farms, water supply, demolitions and mine clearance.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- France & Germany Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Campaign Service Medal: 1876549 W.O.CL.1. R.B.SMITH RE.
- Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal: 1876549 S.SGT. R.B.SMITH R.E.
- Meritorious Service Medal: 1876549 W.O.CL.1. R.B.SMITH RE.
This page last updated 13 Dec 14