Harry Leslie Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harry Leslie Smith
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| Born | 25 February 1923 Barnsley, England |
| Died | 28 November 2018 (aged 95) Belleville, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Author Social activist Columnist Oriental rug importer (retired) RAF serviceman (formerly) |
| Citizenship | British |
| Notable works | The Barley Hole Chronicles The Empress of Australia 1923: A Memoir<2r>Harry's Last Stand |
| Spouse |
Elfriede Gisela "Friede" Edelmann
(m. 1947; died 1999) |
| Children | 3 sons |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1948 |
Harry Leslie Smith (born February 25, 1923 – died November 28, 2018) was an English writer. He also shared his thoughts on politics. Harry grew up in a very poor family in Yorkshire, England.
He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II. After the war, he moved to Canada in 1953. Once he retired, Harry started writing books. He wrote about his own life and about the history of Britain in the 1900s.
Harry wrote five books in total. These books covered topics like life during the Great Depression, his time in the Second World War, and the period of hardship after the war. He also wrote articles for major newspapers and magazines. Harry often spoke in public about important issues.
Contents
Harry's Early Life
Harry Leslie Smith was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, on February 25, 1923. His father, Albert Smith, was a coal miner who could not find work. His mother was Lillian Dean. Harry's family faced many challenges because they were very poor.
His oldest sister, Marion, sadly died from tuberculosis when she was only ten years old. This happened in 1926. At that time, there was no cure for the disease. Also, his family did not have enough money to see a doctor.
After his father lost his job, the family moved to different towns in Yorkshire. These included Bradford and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Joining the Royal Air Force
In 1941, Harry joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). He spent several years in Hamburg, Germany. He was part of the forces that helped after the war. While he was there, he met his future wife, Friede.
After Harry left the RAF, he and Friede moved back to the UK. He worked many different jobs around the Yorkshire area.
Moving to Canada
In November 1953, Harry and Friede moved to Canada. They first lived in Scarborough and later in Belleville, Ontario. They had three sons: Michael, Peter, and John.
Harry built a career in the Oriental rug business. He worked as a buyer and salesman for a large store called Eaton's. He specialized in finding and importing new rug designs. These designs came from places like the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Writing and Speaking
Harry's wife, Friede, passed away in 1999. His son Peter died in 2009. After these sad events, Harry found comfort in writing. After he retired, he became a full-time writer. He wrote about his memories and about social history. He split his time between Ontario, Canada, and Yorkshire, England.
Sharing His Views
Harry wrote regularly for The Guardian newspaper. He often shared his thoughts on politics and history from the 1900s. In 2013, he wrote about why he would not wear the remembrance poppy anymore. He felt the symbol was being used to support current wars.
In September 2014, Harry spoke at the Labour Party conference. He spoke about how important the National Health Service (NHS) is. He explained that before the NHS, common diseases could easily take lives. He also spoke on BBC Radio and at a politics festival.
Harry said that the global financial crisis of 2008 made him want to speak out. He wanted to fight for fairness and public services. He also worried about the future for young people. He said he wanted young people in Britain to vote to protect social programs.
Supporting Political Leaders
In July 2015, Harry supported Jeremy Corbyn in his campaign to become the leader of the Labour Party. Harry also appeared in a BBC Three documentary in October 2015. In it, he strongly disagreed with anti-immigration groups.
In 2016, Harry again supported Corbyn's campaign to be re-elected as Labour leader. He said that Corbyn was an honest person who wanted to make things better in Britain. Harry believed Corbyn could change the world for the better.
In September 2017, Harry released his fifth book. It was called Don't Let My Past Be Your Future.
Harry also helped refugees during the European migrant crisis. In November 2017, he appeared on a TV show called The Russell Howard Hour. He talked about his visit to the Calais Jungle refugee camp. He also discussed his new book and the growing need for food banks in the UK. Harry and the host also talked about the NHS. Harry shared a family story about how important it was to have access to medical care.
Later Life and Passing
On November 20, 2018, Harry became very ill. He was taken to Belleville General Hospital because he had pneumonia. Many people around the world showed their support for him on Twitter. This included Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, whom Harry greatly admired. Harry Leslie Smith passed away on November 28, 2018.
Harry's Books
Harry Leslie Smith wrote several important books:
- Love among the ruins (2009) (also known as Hamburg 1947: A Place for the Heart to Kip)
- 1923: A Memoir (2010)
- These two books were also published together as The Barley Hole Chronicles.
- The Empress of Australia: A Post-War Memoir (2013)
- Harry's Last Stand (2014)
- People who reviewed this book called it "heart-breaking." They also said it was "a furious poem dedicated to the preservation of the welfare state." The book mixes parts of Harry's life story with his strong opinions. It sold over 18,000 copies.
- Don't Let My Past Be Your Future (2017)
