Lance-Corporal John A. Smith enlisted in the Black Watch at Fort George in 1960 and served with the Regiment in Southern Arabia and Cyprus during the course of the next decade. Detached to Libya as an N.C.O. commanding one of the Motorised Sections for the escort to King Idris in 1970, Smith transferred to the Royal Marines two years later. Passing his Parachute and Beach Raiding Course, he went on to serve in Northern Ireland with 42 Commando and in the Falklands as part of the Forward Reconnaissance Team of No. 3 Commando Brigade. In this latter capacity he landed in San Carlos on D-Day minus 1 and spotted for the Artillery from Mount Kent, in addition to participating in operations around Teal Inlet. Smith was wounded in both legs by shrapnel following an enemy aircraft strike on Mount Kent and had to wait five days before being evacuated - during the interim, he cleaned his wounds with snow and treated the pain with his meagre morphine supply. Invalided home, he was discharged shortly afterwards.