Benjamin Willis Smith (32)
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Benjamin Willis Smith was the son of Walter Willis Smith and Annie Smith and the brother of Vernon, Olive, Irene and Kenneth Smith. In 1911, the family home was at 28, Curzon Avenue, Carlton but, by 1921, they had re-located to 129, Windmill Lane Sneinton (both Nottingham). Benjamin married Ethel Fox in 1937 and they lived at 103, Parkdale Road, Bakersfield, Nottingham along with their four children – Marlene, Gordon, Avril and Josephine.
Nottingham’s heaviest loss of life at a single location during May 9th 1941’s air raid occurred within the Co-op Bakery on Meadow Lane where 49 night shift workers perished. The bakery was hit twice; one bomb caused tons of flour stored on upper floors to crash down to ground level. A second device penetrated the bakery’s air raid shelter roof before exploding amongst the assembled work force. Rescue efforts were impeded by blazing fat. For an excellent account of this incident, see David Needham, Battle of the Flames, Nottingham’s Fight for Survival in WWII (2nd Ed. Chesterfield: Banister Publications Ltd, 2020 p.p. 141-142. First Ed. Horizon Press, 2009).
Grave Reference: Wilford Hill: T12/67A Buried May 13th 1941
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