Flying Officer Harold Souden SMITH (70634)
Royal Air Force Flying School, Cranwell

Date of birth: 16th April 1909
Date of death: 29th May 1940

Killed on active service aged 31
Buried at St Andrew's Churchyard, Cranwell, Plot 2 Row C Grave 13
He was born at Blackheath on the 16th of April 1909 the eldest son of Edmund Melliar Smith, solicitor, and his second wife, Eleanor Katherine (nee Boby) of 80 Eltham Road, Lee, London SE12.

He was educated at Belmont School, Westcott, Dorking, Surrey and at the King’s School Canterbury from September 1923 to July 1926 where he was in Holme House. He won a Junior Scholarship in June 1923. He became a house monitor in 1925 and was awarded his sports colours in 1926.

On leaving school he studied at the Law Society School from 1926 to 1927 after which he became an articled clerk to a solicitor.

He joined the Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers and gained his "Wings" in February 1934 before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 12th of March 1934. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 12th of September 1935. On the 1st of January 1938 he transferred to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Soon after war broke out he was mobilised and was posted to RAF Cranwell for further training.

On the 29th of May 1940 Harold Smith took off in Oxford P1980 for his first solo night flight. As he came into land at 2.15am he undershot the flare path and was some four hundred yards wide of the correct landing line. He was killed when the aircraft crashed into two wooden huts on the airfield. At the time of his death he had accumulated one hundred and thirty one hours of flying time of which forty five were on this aircraft type.

His father received the following letter dated the 3rd of June 1940: - "Sir, I am commanded by the Air Council to inform you that they have with great regret to confirm a telegram in which you were notified that your son, Flying Officer Harold Souden Smith, Royal Air Force, lost his life as the result of an aircraft accident on the 29th May 1940. The Council desire that, in conveying this information, I should express their profound sympathy in your bereavement."

His funeral took place on the 31st of May 1940.
Holme House

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