John Albert Smith

Jack's son, Tony Smith recalled; In the mid 1930s, my father, “Jack” Smith, took over the family’s butchers business from his father – the Sausage King of Maldon- at 29 Market Hill.

The war kicked off in 1939 and with the introduction of rationing the business was no longer viable .  He stopped trading and became manager of Bentall’s Works canteen, overseeing the kitchen run by a Scottish cook, Miss Hepburn, “Heppy” and her bevy of girls and organising various social functions, dances, variety shows for the Bentall’s workforce.

Early on in the war he became an ARP Warden and spent many a convivial evening at the ARP Post that was situated in a cellar behind the Ship public house at the bottom of Market Hill.

In 1940 he was approached and invited to set up a unit of “Auxiliaries” who were to provide underground resistance if the Germans invaded. It was a secret organisation and there were many groups all over the country with the majority in the south-east. They wore Home Guard uniforms – this was their cover- and the Patrol Leader – my father- was given the rank of Sergeant.

The Intelligence Officer for the unit was a Captain Darwall Smith, a man for whom my father had great respect and the local officer Lieutenant Tuker from Danbury.