John Richard Easonsmith
| John Richard Easonsmith | |
|---|---|
John "Jake" Richard Easonsmith
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Jake |
| Born |
12 April 1909 Bristol, England |
| Died | 16 November 1943 (aged 34) Leros, Greece |
| Buried at | Leros war cemetery grave reference 3.B.3 |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1939–1943 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands held | Long Range Desert Group |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Military Cross |
John ("Jake") Richard Easonsmith DSO, MC (12 April 1909 – 16 November 1943) was an officer in the British Army during the Second World War who rose from private soldier to become commanding officer of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) until he was killed in action in 1943.
His fellow-LRDG officer W. B. Kennedy Shaw described him as: "Brave, wise, with an uprightness that shamed lesser men, he was, I think, the finest man we ever had in the LRDG."
John Richard Easonsmith was born in Bristol 12 April 1909, the son of George, a well known local printer and member of Bristol Savages and Daisy Easonsmith. Easonsmith was educated at Mill Hill School in London, and Clifton College Bristol. After leaving school he joined W.D. and H.O. Wills a British a tobacco importer and cigarette manufacturer in Bristol. Afterwards he entered the wine trade as a salesman with the Emu Australian Wine Company Limited. Recreationally he was a member and played for the Clifton Rugby Football Club. He married Honor Gertrude Marsh and together they had a daughter.
At the start of the Second World War Easonsmith joined the 4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, a Territorial Army unit that converted to the 66th Search Light Regiment Royal Artillery. By August 1940, he had been promoted to sergeant and recommended for a commission, at the same time transferred to the Royal Tank Regiment. Having completed his officer training he was promoted to lieutenant in July 1940, posted to the Middle East in December, 1940. On arrival he was selected to serve with the Long Range Desert Group.
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