LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Edmond Rhys SMART
Service No: 417006
Born: Peterborough SA, 15 April 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 8 November1941
Unit: No. 61 Squadron (RAF), RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire
Died: Air Operations (No. 61 Squadron Lancaster aircraft LM329), Italy, 8 August 1943, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Milan War Cemetery, Italy
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edmond Joseph and Cora Barbara Smart, of Walkerville, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Lancaster LM329 took off from RAF Syerston at 2102 hours on the night of 7/8th August 1943, detailed to bomb Milan Italy. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. Other aircraft on the same mission reported a good weather en route, with light anti-aircraft fire and searchlights ineffective.
The crew members of LM329 were:
Sergeant Douglas Brown (1317926) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Flying Officer Eric Filmer (132872) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Pilot Officer Henry Halkier (149519) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Edmond Rhys Smart (417006) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Charles Philip Southcott (921349) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant David Wilkie Thirsk (1512169) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Frank Edward West (1331511) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/38/223