John Frederick SMELLIE. Captain (Pilot Officer, Pilot) 158421 No 1 Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment, Army Air Corps, formerly Northumberland Hussars.
Born 21 January 1914 at West View, Church Road, County Cork to Nicholas Sarens Herbert. Parents later resided at Brookside Manor, Holywood.
Husband of Ileen Mary Smellie, nee McLean of Holywood, Co. Down, Northern Ireland. Grandson of James and Elizabeth McLean.
He was student of Queen’s University, Belfast, before the outbreak of World War 2 studying law and became a solicitor.
Killed at Arnhem on Operation Market Garden September 1944 aged 30.
Commemorated on his grandfather John McLean memorial in the Priory Churchyard opposite, Holywood Cemetery, Holywood, County Down.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
John Frederick Smellie of Plas Merdyn, Holywood County Down. Died on date stated. His effects went to Herbert Wilkin James Smellie, clerk.
Following extract credited to
https://www.paradata.org.uk/people/john-f-smellie
John Frederick Smellie was commissioned in the Northumberland Hussars and volunteered for airborne forces.
Captain Smellie successfully completed his glider pilot training and was posted as Officer Commanding B Squadron, 4th Flight, 1st Wing, The Glider Pilot Regiment, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).
Capt Smellie was killed in action on 23 September 1944, aged 30, and was given a field burial in an isolated grave in Arnhem, and was re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 8 August 1945.
