World War 2: John Richard Easonsmith (Collinson, 1923-1926) 

Mark Mortimer (Burton Bank, 1980-1985) recently got in touch to share details of Old Millhillian, John Richard Easonsmith, who attended Mill Hill School. Mark’s parents had recently visited the Greek islands and came across his grave on the island of Leros.  

On the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, John Richard Easonsmith joined the 4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, a Territorial Army unit, that subsequently was converted to the 66th Search Light Regiment Royal Artillery.

By August 1940 John had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and recommended for a commission. Having completed his officer training, he received a commission as a subaltern in July 1940 and was posted to Egypt to take part in the British Empire's North Africa Campaign. In March 1941, John applied for a transfer into the behind-enemy-lines reconnaissance unit; the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG).

In December 1941, John was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in action and, following his promotion to the rank of Major in October 1942, the Distinguished Service Order. In October 1943 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and was appointed as Commanding Officer of the Long Range Desert Group as the unit left the North African theatre and embarked upon the Dodecanese Campaign, landing on the island of Leros.

Easonsmith was killed in action at the age of 34 on 15 November 1943 during the Battle of Leros, when he was shot by a German sniper whilst carrying out a lone reconnaissance of a village. His body is buried in Leros War Cemetery, the gravestone bearing the quotation from Rupert Brooke's poem "The Soldier": "Some corner of a foreign field that is for ever England".