John Henry Smythe’s Wartime and Post-War Contributions Highlighted in Museum Exhibition

Eddy Smythe has discussed his father’s involvement in World War Two, following the creation of a museum exhibition honoring him. Smythe stated, “It’s difficult to articulate how I feel, because it’s just so immense and I’m so grateful to Thame Museum.” John Henry Smythe, who was among 60 West Africans to serve in the RAF, will have his story presented at Thame Museum. While serving the British Empire as an RAF flight lieutenant, he undertook multiple missions. He was subsequently shot down, captured, and interned in a prisoner of war camp. Following his liberation, Johnny achieved distinction as Britain’s first black barrister, served as Sierra Leone Attorney General, and played a significant role in the Windrush generation. His son, Eddy, remarked: “My father never, ever talked about the war and it wasn’t until the year before he died that I really started to understand and managed to get him to talk a bit more. “He spoke about his experiences in a very unemotional way, it was just a matter of fact.” Flt Lt Smythe passed away in 1996 and was interred in Thame, the town where he resided following his retirement. His son indicated that subsequent to his father’s death, he had “learnt a lot more about his experiences.” These experiences are now featured in a permanent exhibition at Thame Museum, scheduled for its official opening on Thursday. Originating from Sierra Leone, Flt Lt Smythe became an RAF navigator at 29 years old, ultimately joining 623 squadron. Eddy stated: “When the British Empire reached out to countries all over the world looking for assistance after the war started, he very quickly volunteered.” In 1943, during his 27th flight and fifth mission, Johnny was shot down, sustaining injuries to his groin and abdomen. Eddy recounted that his father landed, concealed his parachute, and acquired a bicycle to travel “as far away as possible,” eventually reaching a barn. He added: “He went to get some rest but he made a mistake he lit a cigarette, someone saw the light from his cigarette and called the guards.” Eddy further explained: “Within half an hour, he heard German voices outside, he couldn’t speak German so he didn’t know what they were talking about, so he lay quietly there and then they open fired into the barn.” He continued, “He immediately came out with his arms raised and he surrendered – bit of a shock to the German guards, seeing this 6ft 4in (195cm) tall black man in an officer’s RAF uniform.” Eddy reported that the guards interrogated his father regarding his uniform before transporting him to a station. There, he was “severely, brutally interrogated, but he was a big, strong and fit young man, he would only give his name, rank and number.” Flt Lt Smythe remained for 18 months at Stalag Luft I prisoner of war camp in Barth, Germany, until his liberation and return flight to Britain. He subsequently served in the RAF’s colonial office, primarily overseeing the welfare of Caribbean men. Eddy stated: “He was required to board the Empire Windrush, which was a ship taking a large contingent of demobilised Caribbean men back home,” and his father later assisted these men in securing employment in Britain. He “would tell them ‘it won’t be easy, it’ll be hard even getting accommodation’, and this was a time where they would face racism – but there were job opportunities.” Subsequent to the Empire Windrush period, Johnny embarked on a legal career, rising to become attorney general of Sierra Leone and meeting President John F Kennedy at the White House. Reflecting on the exhibition dedicated to his father’s life, Eddy concluded: “I think I actually find it difficult to articulate how I feel, because it’s just so immense.” He added, “I’m so grateful to Thame Museum for the effort and the work they’ve put into creating this exhibition and it’s really overwhelming.”