Overseas on July 20, 1941.
Qualified Driver Mechanic group C on February 12, 1942.
Promoted to Corporal on April 2, 1943.
Promoted to Sergeant on September 27, 1944.
Killed in action during an attack on Grotendam, Netherlands (South of Oostburg, Netherlands).
The Queen's Own Rifles war diary reports on October 25, 1944:
STEENHOVEN 076113 (Steenhovensedijk, Netherlands)
Reveille – Cloudy and cool
0600 “C” Coy moved forward and relieved one coy of R de Chaud.
1315 “A” Coy started forward with “D” to attack Oostburg, Netherlands. One of the Flame throwers with “A” Coy struck a mine and the two men in it were killed (Edward Rothwell and Gordon Edward Smith). A heavy smoke screen was put down to assist the attack on the open road into the town. The houses on the outskirts were soon taken. No 8 platoon made a wild bayonet charge to gain as their objective the first crossroads in town.
1900 Tactical BHQ set up in dugout at 04151070 (Bakkersstraat, Oostburg). With relatively slight opposition the rest of the coys all got on their objectives in town. There was some heavy mortaring and few shells came from Vlissingen, Netherlands. Our casualties were fairly heavy. R.A.P. Moved from IJzendijke, Netherlands to Waterlandkerkje, Netherlands.
