Background
Smith was born in Salthill, County Galway, and worked as a farmer prior to joining the force as Garda 1969 on 18 October 1922.
Smith was born in Salthill, County Galway, and worked as a farmer prior to joining the force as Garda 1969 on 18 October 1922.
The area was subject to an unusually severe cloud burst that led to flooding at a house about a mile from the Garda Station. The three Gardaí found the owner, Mistress Woodroofe, clinging to the upper edge of her front door to avoid being swept away.
Garda Smith
"plunged through the torrent, risking the treacherous pot-holes which surrounded the building, seized Mrs Woodroofe and passed her to his colleagues who had followed him.
Smith then returned again to the house through the still-rising water. This time he managed to secure Mrs Woodroofe"s baby.
Tragically child had drowned. for the third time, accompanied on this occasion by Garda Connolly, Smith re-entered the house and found Mr. Woodroofe in a room off the kitchen.
Despite their imminent danger of being cut off by the water.. both men got Mr Woodruffe onto a materess which they then used as a raft to float him.. to safety."
Smith spent much of his later life and career in the Tipperary Division, retiring on 9 January 1954 after serving thirty-one years and sixty-one days.
His subsequent life is unknown.