Bertie Benjamin Smith

Smith became Patrol leader when Forward was promoted in April 1944. Bert and Gilbert Smith were brothers. His year of birth is recorded as 1905 on early school registers, 1904 on the nominal roll and the 1939 Register.

Gilbert Smith was a well known Keeper, who wrote a book about his life in the Forest. The book contains photos of groups of Keepers, taken in the 1950s. These included Bert Smith and Bill Gulliver and Gilbert can be seen to be wearing his Aux Units enamel badge in some of the photos.

Bert Smith, Gilbert Smith, Bill Gulliver and Allister Holloway all occupied well known Keeper’ or Forester’s cottages in the Forest (Holly Hatch, Bramshaw Wood and Coppice of Linwood respectively). These were “official residences” that came with the job and form part of the unique structure of the New Forest.