The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (424891) Flight Sergeant Benjamin Hartley Smith, No. 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Second World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (424891) Flight Sergeant Benjamin Hartley Smith, No. 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Second World War.

424891 Flight Sergeant Benjamin Hartley Smith, No. 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force
KIA 24 December 1944

Today we pay tribute to Flight Sergeant Benjamin Hartley Smith.

Benjamin Smith was born on 24 March 1914 in Newcastle, New South Wales, the son of Benjamin and Alice Smith.

Known within the Smith family as “Bennie”, he attended the local school before going on to forge a career as a school teacher.

On 9 October 1941, Smith enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force. He began training as a navigator and soon embarked for overseas service. As part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, Smith was one of almost 27,500 RAAF pilots, navigators, wireless operators, gunners, and engineers, who, throughout the course of the war, joined squadrons based in Britain.

Arriving in Britain Smith undertook further specialist training before being posted to No. 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force. As part of RAF Bomber Command, No. 166 Squadron was equipped with four-engine Avro Lancaster heavy bombers.

On 24 December 1944, the Lancaster in which Smith was the navigator was taking part in a daylight raid on the German city of Cologne when it was shot down. Benjamin Smith and all six of his British crewmates were killed.

Their bodies were buried side by side in the British and Commonwealth War Cemetery in Rheinburg, Germany.

In a letter to Smith’s parents, the commander of no. 166 Squadron wrote: “Your son was a most proficient navigator and his loss is deeply regrated. I would like you to know how greatly we all honour the sacrifice he has made so far from his home country in the service of the United Nations.”

Benjamin Smith was 30 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, among some 40,000 Australians who died while serving in the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Flight Sergeant Benjamin Hartley Smith, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Lachlan Grant
Historian, Military History Section