7th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment
1939-1940
Military Honours and Awards

Royal Sussex Regiment Crest
7th Battalion

Private
Thomas Harry Smith
Mentioned in Despatches
29/08/1946

No. 5438571 Private Thomas Harry Smith, 7th Bn.

Smith was captured at Amiens on 20th May 1940. In autumn 1942 with three companions, he escaped from a farm near Luderan Grudenz. They were recaptured by military police in a Polish village. In summer 1943, Smith escaped from a farm at Bairsee near Bromberg. After five days liberty he was recaptured whilst trying to get food from a working party.

In spring 1944, Smith and a companion escaped from a goods yard. They were free for three days before being picked up by a patrol near Kotonterz. At Bairsee, Smith walked away from a farm in the middle of the day in uniform. He was recaptured two days later.

As a result of his attempts to escape, Smith was sent to Gros Waltz. Here he was one of fifteen P/W’s who broke down the wall of a small outhouse. He was free for three days and was caught whilst obtaining food from a British working party.

On 19th January 1945, when being marched from Thorn, Smith and a companion escaped and managed to reach the Russian lines.
(was a PoW at Stalag XXA.)