Rifleman John William Smillie of Dunclug, Ballymena, Co. Antrim died on 4th December 1943 while serving in Italy with 2nd Battalion, The London Irish Rifles.
Rifleman
7019584
Rifleman John William Smillie (7019584) served in 2nd Battalion, The London Irish Rifles, Royal Ulster Rifles during the Second World War. Known as Jack, he was the eldest son of William John Smillie and Mary Smillie (née McGowan) of Dunclug, Ballymena, Co. Antrim.
In civilian life, jack worked as a farm labourer for Robert Park at Leymore, Co. Antrim before joining the British Army in 1939. A brother Rifleman Walter Smillie served with the Royal Ulster Rifles and another brother Thomas Smillie served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Saintfield, Co. Down.
Rifleman Smillie died on 4th December 1943 aged 35 years old as a result of wounds sustained in the Italian campaign. His grave is in Section VIII, Row B, Grave 25 of Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy. His headstone bears the inscription:
“Greater love hath no man than this”. Love’s last gift. Remembrance.