Mark Townsend has uncovered details about his late grandfather, Cyril Smith, who served as a covert soldier in World War Two, after using an AI search engine. Smith's family had long held rumours of his involvement in special service, but specific details remained unknown.
Townsend's 17-year search for information led him to use an AI engine, which presented a group photograph with captions, including Smith's name. This discovery enabled Townsend to find Smith's full service record.
The records revealed Smith was part of the Frome Auxiliary Unit, based in Somerset. This unit secretly trained in guerrilla warfare to disrupt German forces in the event of an invasion of England. After the threat of invasion faded, the auxiliary units were disbanded in 1944, and Smith joined the Wiltshire Regiment, later being deployed to the frontline.
Further research, including a book about Smith's regiment, detailed an incident where Sergeant Smith survived a German bullet grazing his scalp. Smith was later killed on Valentine's Day 1945. His son, Paul Smith, expressed anger that his father insisted on re-joining his unit in Germany despite being offered compassionate leave, preventing him from knowing his father.