For many years I tried to find my Uncle Arthur’s grave (under my then married name, Sheila Payne) and in 1994 I thought that I had finally found it and took Mum (Miriam Chinn – Arthur’s sister), my sister, Barbara, and my two children, Lee and Kelly Henry, to Criel sur Mer to pay their respects . However, in 2019, I now find that his final resting place has yet to be confirmed. So I start again on my search to bring closure to our family. I’d like to thank Laurent Viton and Andy Saunders for encouraging me to start again.
Sheila Chinn 9th February 2019
Arthur – Prices School approx 1932
Grace and Arthur at Chase Cottage – approx 1937
Arthur at Chase Cottage, Shirrell Heath
1937 Arthur at Ruislip 4th from left, bottom row
Picture of Arthur which hung on his Mum’s wall until she died in 1972 – Bottom row 2nd from right
Ruislip Training: Arthur with friend, Taffy Ramsden 591306
Ruislip: Far right: Colin Ross. Arthur: far right next to Colin
Ruislip:Back row: Paddy Ryan, Arthur, Colin Ross, Don MacKenzie 591249. Mid ro l to r: Taffy Ramsden 591306 + unknown. 4th row down: Unknown, Jimmy Reid. Bottom: Vance
Arthur and Apprentice Clerks put their month together and bought this car. 1938
Ruislip: Arthur relaxing
Ruislip RAF Training – Arthur 4th from left, bottome row
Arthur – RAF training
Colin Ross :bottom row, sat far right. Arthur: Bottom row, 3rd from right
Arthur Smith Cambridge Passing Out. 2nd row from bottom. l to r: 2nd in
NO 1 SQUADRON – RAF – PILOT SERGEANT AC SsMITH
Sept 1941 – Arthur’s last letter home
Sept 1941 – Arthur’s last letter home
11 Sept 1941 Newspaper cutting reporting him missing
Arthur’s resting place – Criel sur Mer Church 1994
Arthur’s resting place – Criel sur Mer graveyard 1994
Arthur’s resting place – Criel sur Mer line of 6 airmen’s graves but Arthur’s hasn’t been identified 1994
Sheila Chinn at Arthur’s resting place – Criel sur Mer where I thought Uncle Arthur was buried 2002
Uncle Arthur’s picture and wings sent to me from America by my cousins, Richard Bouch, in 2018
Grace’s son, Richard and daughter-in-law Jeannette Bouch 2018
2011 – Grandchildren Georgia and Sam Dobbyn placing flowers on Shedfield War Memorial where Arthur is commemorated
2011 – Grandson Sam Dobbyn showing a picture of Arthur attached to flowers on Shedfield War Memorial where Arthur is commemorated
1947 10th Sept Air Ministry letter re Uncle Arthur’s grave
1993 25 Feb War Graves Commission letter
1993 19 March Letter from Ministry of Defense
Arthur Smith Service Records Page 1
Arthur Smith Service Records Page 2
Arthur Smith Service Records Page 3
Arthur Smith Service Records Page 4
1993 30 April MoD letter
1993 10 Aug Embassy of Federal Replic of Germany letter
1993 14 Sept War Graves Commission letter
1993 30 Nov War Graves Commission
1994 6 Jan Red Cross letter re location of Arthur Smith’s grave
