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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

William Ellwood Smillie

In memory of:

Flight Sergeant William Ellwood Smillie

October 20, 1943

Military Service


Service Number:

R/129757

Age:

23

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Additional Information


Son of William Robert and Olive Ellwood Smillie, of London, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 214 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

HARROGATE (STONEFALL) CEMETERY
Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

Sec. C. Row C. Grave 18.

Location:

The town cemetery is on the south east side of Harrogate, Yorkshire. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission's plot is in the southern part of the cemetery. To reach the cemetery from Harrogate, go along the Harrogate/Wetherby road (A661) to the junction with the A59. The cemetery is signposted at this junction. This cemetery contains war graves of both world wars. The large majority of the war burials occurred during the 1939-45 War. Nearly all are airmen, two-thirds of them belonging to the Canadian forces. Many of these men died in the Military Wing of Harrogate General Hospital. Of the many airfields established in Yorkshire during the War, a number were situated in the vicinity of Harrogate. Such were the R.A.F. station at Harrogate itself, and those at Linton-on-Ouse, Tockwith, Rufforth and Marston Moor. Nearly all the Canadians buried here belonged to No. 6 (R.C.A.F.) Bomber Group, whose headquarters were at Allerton Park. All the stations controlled by this Group were in the area north of Harrogate in the Vale of York, the largest base having its headquarters at Linton-on-Ouse. During the early months of the war a piece of land was set aside by the local authorities for service war burials near the north-west corner of the cemetery. This group of war graves is in Sections 20E and 21E within the northern boundary. In July 1943 the Air Forces Section was opened at the north-eastern corner of the cemetery, where men from airfields in Yorkshire and the north-eastern counties were brought, most of whom died in the great bomber offensive on targets in Germany.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Photo of WILLIAM ELLWOOD SMILLIE– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of William Ellwood Smillie– In memory of the people of London, Ontario who served during World War II and did not return. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Grave marker
  • Grave marker– Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - May 2019 ... photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Grave marker– Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - May 2019 ... photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flight Sergeant William Ellwood Smillie is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flight Sergeant William Ellwood Smillie is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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