Les Smith, evacuated to Castlethorpe during W.W.II
Les Smith, was born in Edmonton, London in 1928. He was evacuated to Sunny View Farm, Castlethorpe, in 1940, at the age of 12. To live with Rose Smith (no relation).
Little did he know that when he left Edmonton he would never again live with his family.
Les Smith at home in Edmonton, London
Les Smith at home in Edmonton, London
Les attended Castlethorpe School until the age of 14. Visiting his family in Edmonton for only a few months in 1942. Les returned to Castlethorpe, to work on the farm for Rose Smith the same year. Working there until 1951 when he joined the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry.
Les Smith at home in Edmonton, London
Les Smith at home in Edmonton, London
Les Smith
After Les had been in the army for three months, he married Peggy Pateman (Castlethorpe's Stationmaster’s daughter) on July 7th 1951.
He was posted to Egypt on October 8th 1951. There were no married quarters in Egypt, so Peggy could not join him. After three years he was posted to Honiton in Devon, for two years.

Les and Peggy returned back to Castlethorpe in 1957. Les working for the Smith family again.
Peggy Pateman
Les Smith
Peggy Pateman
David Smith
David their first child was born in 1956 and Janet their daughter in 1959. Both of them attended Castlethorpe School and then the Radcliffe School at Wolverton.
Janet Smith
David Smith
Janet Smith
Les Smith with a German prisoner of war Eric Bach
In 1972, Les left the farm and went to work in the lifting shop in Wolverton Works. Later working for Dunlop & Rankin in Wolverton, also Aviation Metals, where he worked until 1993 when he retired.
Les died at the age of 69 in 1997.
Les Smith
Les Smith with a German prisoner of war
- Eric Bach
Les Smith