Robert Borwell Smailes (1919-1984) [90112, Second-Lieutenant, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry] ✓
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- born 1919, Lockwood
- son of solicitor Thomas Smailes & Kate (née Borwell)
- married Betty Marjorie Bulmer in 1945 (registered Q2 1945 York)
- worked as a solicitor (Smailes & Walker, 25 Market Place, Huddersfield)
- died 5 April 1984, Flockton
Records:
- 1921 Census (FindMyPast) – The Yews, Park Road, Lockwood
Links:
Huddersfield Examiner 18 May 1940, page 3:
HUDDERSFIELD MEN IN NORWAY FIGHT
Second-Lieut. R. B. Smailes Among Missing
Alderman Thomas Smailes, of Huddersfield, Chairman of the Education and Public Library and Art Gallery Committees, has received an official intimation from the War Office that his son, Second-Lieutenant R. B. Smailes, is reported missing in Norway.
Second-Lieutenant Smailes was in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, which, with other Yorkshire regiments, distinguished themselves by their valiant stand against superior forces in Norway.
Several Huddersfield soldiers have been reported missing in Norway. They belonged to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and were each twenty-one years of age. They are:
Private E. Harper, son of Mr. Edgar E. Harper, of Westgate, Almondbury.
Private Frank Candler, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Candler, 5a, Back Oak Row, Bradley.
Private C. King, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom King, 69, Northgate, Almondbury.
Private Stanley Warner, son of Mrs. Warner, 2 Woodside Cottages, Pymroyd, Milnsbridge.
Private Harper, a much respected member of Zion Methodist Church, Almondbury, joined the Army in October last. Before that he was in the employment of Messrs. W. E. Jowitt, St. John’s Road.
Private Candler, who in civil life worked for Elliott’s Bricks, Ltd., Lepton, played for Bradley United Football Club.
Private King was formerly employed by the British Dyestuffs Corporation.
Private Warner was for two years a conductor on Hanson’s buses. He joined the Army last October, and was home on leave a month ago.
Said to be Prisoner
According to a German wireless announcement, Private W. Cartwright, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Cartwright, of 68, Longwood Road, Longwood, is a prisoner of war. His parents had earlier received a notification from the War Office that he was missing in Norway. He is twenty-one years of age, and was in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Before going to Norway he had served in France. Second-Lieutenant Smailes was his officer.
Private Cartwright was a member of the second eleven of Dalton Cricket Club. He was employed by Messrs. David Livesey, Crowe Lane Works, Milnsbridge, before joining the Army.
Huddersfield Examiner 1 June 1940, page 4:
SECOND-LIEUT. SMAILES A PRISONER OF WAR
Previously Posted as Missing
It was announced over the German wireless on Monday night that Second-Lieut. R. B. Smailes, the son of Alderman Thomas Smailes, of 11, Park Drive, Huddersfield, is a prisoner of war in Germany. A few weeks ago Alderman Smailes was notified by the War Office that his son was missing in Norway, and nothing further was heard of him until the wireless announcement.
Alderman Smailes told an “Examiner” reporter that after, the announcement had been made he received many telephone calls from people who had heard. the German broadcast, and many friends called at his house to tell him the news. He had also received a steady stream of telephone calls at his home and at his office. He was glad to hear that his son was safe, and added: “I think we can take the announcement as official.”
Second-Lieut. Smailes was educated at Leys School, Cambridge, and took his Ll.B. degree with honours at Leeds University last summer. He was articled to his father with the firm of Messrs. Smailes and Walker, solicitors, of Market Walk. He was a member of the Committee of the Huddersfield Old Boys Football Club and a regular playing member of the reserve team. He was granted a commission in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry about twelve months ago. He went to France, and was later sent to Norway where his regiment, with other Yorkshire regiments distinguished themselves by their valiant stand against superior forces. He celebrated his twenty-first birthday while on active service in France.
His father, Alderman Smailes, is chairman of both the Education and Public Library and Art Gallery Committees of the Huddersfield Town Council.
Huddersfield Examiner 15 June 1940, page 7:
NEWS OF SOME LOCAL SOLIDERS
SEC.-LIEUT. R. B. SMAILES
Alderman Thomas Smailes has received a telegram from the Undersecretary of State for War confirming the news that his son, Second-Lieut. R. B. Smailes, is a prisoner of war. This is the first official intimation he has had confirming an announcement made by the German wireless that Second-Lieut. Smailes was a prisoner of war. The telegram says, “Official notification has been received that Second-Lieut. R. B. Smailes, who was previously reported missing, is now a prisoner of war.”
Huddersfield Examiner 22 June 1940, page 6:
NEWS OF SOME LOCAL SOLIDERS
Lieutenant Smailes in German Camp
Information has been received from the International Red Cross Committee, Geneva, that Second-Lieutenant Robert B. Smailes, son of Alderman and Mrs. Smailes, who was taken prisoner in Norway, is in a camp in Germany. He is stated to be well.
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