218302 Spr. William James Smith British Army 245 (Welsh) Field Coy Royal Engineers from:London My late dad William (Bill) James Smith served from 1943/46 posted in various European countries Belgium France Holland Germany. He was on the Rhine with the 101st & 82nd American airborne I believe and a Polish armoured division at various times. I have photos of Rhine bridges he I understand was attached to a company called R force at some point? He did not talk much as was the way from what these brave men went through I think at the end of the war in 1945/6 in the Black Forest he went out for rabbits/game and the three of them were walking in the Forest and one fella had in his possession a German Luger pistol and my dad said to him put the pistol away as they are very sensitive by an act of God where my dad was walking they changed their walking formation and the pistol went off and the fella in the position where my dad had been fell shot through the head by accident by the fella who had been forwarned to put away the gun. My Dad tried to stop the blood with his fingers in his head, they were picked up a by a search party after not returning to camp. My Dad did not realise that he had died instantly but would not leave him. I understand that my Dad was put on courts martial with the other fella until the full facts were found he was released with no charge and was commended for what he tried to do at that moment it was as he said an accident and a tragic loss of life and a lesson to respect weapons at all times sad loss to this fella's family. It obviously stayed with my dad till he passed away in June 2000. I have a photo I believe may be one of the fellas who was shot? I do have some other short stories but I cannot substantiate as accurate detail in all my words.
Bless Bill my dad and all the brave men &women in all the wars before then and now for all their brave acts for me and all others to live our lives as we do.
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