SMITH Alfred Horace

Appears on the Army casualties list for Worcestershire.

Alfred Smith enlisted in the Worcesters and joined the 1st Battalion. They had landed in Normandy with the 43rd (Wessex) Division in June 1944 and fought throughout the campaign to the German frontier. In November they were facing the defences of the Siegfried Line and were involved in a significant victory at Tripsrath. The fighting stabilised until February when they met severe resistance in the Reichswald before taking Cleve. After two periods of relief the Battalion returned to the front line for the challenge of the Rhine crossing. A huge concentration of troops and material was built up by 30 Corps near Rees. A small bridgehead was gained and the Worcesters crossed the Rhine on the 27th March. They were then responsible for leading the break-out and ordered to seize a stretch of uncompleted Autobahn. The raised level of the road helped the German defenders and the Worcesters suffered casualties from both shelling and machine guns. The target was captured, but among those killed in action was Private Alfred Smith.