Could you add the details for him please?
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/4 ... d_Charlies___/
THE family of one of the region’s last “Tail-end Charlies”, who has died, have described him as a wonderful man.
Former RAF rear gunner John Thomas William Smith, also a former professional boxer from St Helen Auckland, County Durham, died on August 27, aged 88, after battling ill-health for several weeks.
Mr Smith, known as Tot to his family and friends, was born in Leasingthorne, near Coundon, County Durham, in 1920 and was a keen sportsman throughout his childhood.
After he left school, he worked at Leasingthorne Brick Flatts, and became a professional boxer, fighting under the name of Ted Patsy.
He was nicknamed The Assassin, and won every one of his fights, but was forced to retire from the sport after a burst appendix turned gangrenous.
Mr Smith joined the RAF as a physical training instructor during the Second World War, and subsequently volunteered for Bomber Command, where he was assigned to be a rear gunner, who were nicknamed Tail-end Charlies.
He met his wife of 65 years, Dorothy, while he was stationed in Essex. The couple moved to the North-East in 1949.
Mr Smith is survived by his wife, their two children, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
His son, Chris, and daughter, Dorothy Morland, yesterday paid tribute to their father.
They described him as having a dry sense of humour, and said he was well liked and respected by everyone who knew him.
Ms Morland, who now lives in Florida, described her father as a wonderful man, who taught her everything from riding a bike and driving a car to having good table manners.
Mr Smith Jr, from West Auckland, County Durham, said: “He was a fantastic dad, husband, father-in-law, grandfather, and friend. He would do anything to help anyone.”
His funeral took place on Monday.
Ted Patsy 347018
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Mighty Atom
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 262
- Joined: 11 Oct 2008, 19:00
Re: Ted Patsy 347018
Well it's some sort of perfect record...
Re: Ted Patsy 347018
Miles Templeton's prewarboxing website lists 19 bouts.....as he fought during during the war years his record may almost certainly be incomplete