Rest In Peace Smoky
Posted on 08/03/2005 12:08:31 PM PDT by Loyalist
Hordes of German troops couldn't take him, but time finally did.
Ernest Alva (Smoky) Smith, Canada's last winner of the Victoria Cross, has died at his home in Vancouver. He was 91.
Born in New Westminster, B.C., on May 3, 1914, Smith was a joyful man with an impish smile who savoured a good cigar, a well-aged scotch and the attentions of ladies the world over.
Far from a natural-born diplomat, however, it was his fierce fighting ability that vaulted Smith, nicknamed Smoky in school because of his running ability, into the company of royalty, presidents and prime ministers.
Last fall, Italians and Canadians gathered beneath the walls of an 800-year-old castle in Cesena, Italy, to honour Smith for unleashing a few minutes of fury that saved untold lives and changed his own forever.
In a warm ceremony filled with tales, tears and tributes, officials unveiled a plaque commemorating that night of Oct. 21-22, 1944.
His actions that rainy night, when he singlehandedly fought off German tanks and dozens of troops on a road beside the Savio River, were hailed as an inspiration to all his countrymen for time immemorial.
To Smith, it was simple: kill or be killed. He was scared but he couldn't let his fear gain the best of him or he would die.
"If you're not afraid, there's something wrong with you,'' he said. "You've got to do it. Don't worry about it.
"Do it.''
Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson, who developed a rapport with Smith over four Remembrance Days and many other ceremonies, said his feats that night resonated far beyond the moment into the hearts of generations of Canadians.
"Someone once said that courage is rightly esteemed as the first of human qualities because it is the quality that guarantees all the others,'' she said.
"It is the underlying, rock-like base on which we can live truly human lives. (It is) something he did not only in one battle, not only in the campaign of Italy but for all of us.
"We are more human because one of our members is capable of such a thing.''
Although his comrades called him "a soldier's soldier,'' Smith's relationship with the army was stormy.
He built a reputation as an independent-minded man suspicious of authorities. They made him a corporal nine times and busted him back to private nine times. That was his rank when he was awarded his VC, the only Canadian private to win the medal in the Second World War
Irreverant, sharp-witted and something of a trouble-maker, Smoky Smith and his deeds that night are the stuff of legend.
Already wounded once in Sicily, he had returned to cross the Savio River with his Seaforth Highlanders, the spearhead of an attack aimed at establishing a bridgehead in the push to liberate Cesena and ultimately break through the Germans' Gothic Line.
But the rains were so heavy the river rose two metres in five hours. The banks were too soft for tanks or anti-tank guns to cross in support of the rifle companies.
As the right forward company consolidated its objective, the Germans counter-attacked with three Panther tanks, two self-propelled guns and about 30 infantry.
"The situation appeared hopeless,'' said Smith's citation announcing he had received the Commonwealth's highest military honour almost 61 years ago.
Then 30, Smith led his three-man anti-tank group across an open field under heavy fire. Leaving an anti-tank weapon with one of his men, he led Pte. Jimmy Tennant across the road for another.
"We got hit with grenades,'' Smith recalled. "We got grenades thrown all over us. I don't know how I didn't get hit. He (Tennant) got hit in the shoulder and arm.
"So I said: `Get in that ditch and stay there. Don't move.' So we stayed right there and I never got a mark.''
Smith had a tommy gun -- a close-range submachine-gun -- a Bren gun machine-gun and a PIAT, or Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank gun.
He also had hundreds of rounds of machine-gun ammunition strung around his neck and hanging off his body.
"We had tried to get a German bazooka, which we figured was twice the weapon we had,'' he said. "But they wouldn't let us have it. You know why?
"It wasn't British.''
The pair were no sooner into a ditch when a Panther came toward them, firing all the way. Smith waited until the 45-tonne vehicle was less than 10 metres away before he jumped out from his cover, laid down and fired back.
He scored a direct hit, disabling the tank.
"I hit it in the side or the track,'' said Smith. "A tank is pretty hard to hit. Sometimes the round would just bounce off it.
"I could see it face-on.''
Immediately, 10 German Panzergrenadier troops jumped off and charged him.
"I killed four of them with my tommy gun. That scared them off.
"They were up close -- about 10 feet or so.''
Another tank opened fire. More enemy began closing on Smith's position.
Smith grabbed more magazines and "steadfastly held his position,'' said the citation.
"It was just a bunch of rocks,'' Smith said. "You're not fighting on the prairies, you know. You try and keep out of sight.
"You find yourself a hunk of ground you can hang on to. That's the way you win wars, I think.''
He fired another round at an approaching tank. It turned away. As each German neared him, Smith fired at them.
The rest eventually turned and withdrew "in disorder,'' the citation said.
"Even Germans don't like to be shot,'' Smith said.
From a distance, a tank continued firing. Smith helped a badly bleeding Tennant up and the two of them made their way back across the road to a church, where Smith left his buddy in the care of some medics.
Dead Germans lay strewn all over the road.
"I don't take prisoners. Period,'' Smith said 60 years later. "I'm not paid to take prisoners. I'm paid to kill them.
"That's all there is to it.''
Smith heard he'd won the Victoria Cross about seven weeks after the fight. His reputation as a party animal preceded him. Military police were sent to take him to the ceremony with King George VI in London.
"They picked me up in Naples or somewhere and they put me in jail,'' Smith recalled with his trademark grin.
"`Don't let him loose in this town. Don't let him loose. He's a dangerous fellow.'
"I liked to party. I'd have a big goddamn party and they'd say: `Where is he now? Oh, he's drunk downtown.'''
After the war, Smith worked a couple of years before he rejoined the army to go and fight in the Korean War.
"After I got in the army, they wouldn't let me go. They said: `You got a VC, you're not allowed to fight any more.'
"I said: `Why didn't you tell me before I rejoined?'''
He was promoted sergeant, then retired with full pension at 50. He became a newspaper photographer before starting his own travel business with wife, Esther.
"I worked for Smoky Smith,'' he said. "He's the only boss I know who's good to me.''
He retired at 82. In recent years, he was pretty much confined to a wheelchair. He had a bad cough. His beloved cigars and scotch took their toll.
Jimmy Tennant survived the war. Smith helped him find a job with the Workers Compensation Board when they returned to Canada. Tennant had lost a chunk of bone in his arm so it was shorter than the other by about five centimetres.
Tennant lived a long and happy life, not far from Smith in Vancouver. The two remained friends until Tennant died of lung cancer years ago.
After that night in 1944, Smith's life was never the same again.
Strange women kissed him. Countless men wanted their pictures taken with him. Children smothered him with affection. He met kings and queens and prime ministers and presidents.<
As much as he loved the attention, he never forgot the joys the simple things in life could provide.
Master Cpl. Bud Dickson, Smith's aide de camp on overseas trips for 10 years, remembered getting dressed six years ago in the Mediterranean town of Catania when a knock came on his hotel room door.
Dickson opened the door and there stood Smith.
"Come here, Bud, I've got something to show you,'' Smith said.
Dickson finished dressing and went to Smith's room. The door was ajar and Dickson walked in, calling Smith's name.
"Out here,'' came the reply. And there sat Smith on the balcony overlooking the Mediterranean, two of his beloved scotches on the table in front of him.
Dickson sat, still a bit confused. The sun was just cresting the horizon to the east.
"What's going on, Smoky?'' he asked.
"Nothin','' said the then-85-year-old veteran. "I just wanted you to come over and watch the sunrise.''
So Dickson, then a 33-year-old army signaller, and Smoky Smith, who had probably seen more war than all present-day Canadian soldiers put together, sat back, sipped their scotches and watched a spectacular sunrise.
They barely spoke a word.
About 10 minutes passed. By now, the sun was big blazing orange ball. To this day, Dickson says he will never forget the words Smith spoke.
"Try to do this as often as you can,'' said Smith, who used to kill enemy troops with a half-metre-long, Indian-style warclub bristling with nails.
"You never know when your last sunrise is going to be.''
The war, Smith said last year, didn't darken his soul and weigh on his heart the way it did some veterans.
"Once it's over, it's over,'' he said. "It was a good life.''
A military funeral is being planned.
Myu Dad served with Smokey in the Seaforth Highlanders and knew him before the war. Smokey was one of the best atheletes to come out of New Westminister B.C. a sprinter, lacrosse and baseball player of some repute.
When Smokey and the boys were cut off by high water on the German side of the Savio River, they hunkered down in the basement of an Italian farmhouse. As luck would have it, they came across a large supply of vino and proceeded to have a party. When the Krauts crashed the festivities, Smokey naturally convinced them to bugger off. Smokey was a neat guy. After he received his V.C., he was placed under protective custody in London because he would head to the nearest Pub, flash his V.C. and drink all night for free.
Our US Marines Have such an example...going by the Name of Captain Brian Chontosh!
Thank you for sharing that with us.
Dude, they don't make many people like that in ANY country...
And don't forget the Canadian sniper with a Barrett that saved some US butts out in Afganistan - making kills as far as a mile away. I say he was cast in this guy's mold.
Rest In Peace Smoky
Thank you for your service to King and Country.
No, I don't think that's true. My Dad never won a VC and as I've said before the medals he does have are in his drawer , under his socks , still in their original boxes .
A month ago I took him to the new war museum in Ottawa and he found it amusing he could get in for free . He found a model #54 radio, like the one that was mounted in his carrier and he found the one he carried on his back , model #19 . Like the one that saved his life by becoming armor in a mortar attack. It was shredded , he wasn't . And he found a bren gun carrier complete with flame thrower . No MG. He stood there beside it for a long time and I left him alone for a bit . He was thinking of things that happened long ago in far away places .
In Italy and Europe, the Seaforths, Perths and Irish regiments were part of Hofmister 's 5th Canadian Armored Division . The D-day dodgers. He seemed quite satisfied when we left
What he didn't see I saw in the faces of the young people behind the information desks and in the looks he got as he accosted the volunteers stationed through out the building for information. They smiled and laughed with this chunky 80 year old who limped along like he owned the place . It was more than being just being polite . I'm not sure how to describe it . There was a respect there for this old man who has a habit of talking too loud cause he can't hear like he thinks he can . Everyone else is deaf , not he . Perhaps it was a mix of awe and bewilderment . Perhaps it might have been a look of gratitude .
.My Uncle once said they were amateurs in way over their heads . Fighting professionals and winning . No , they still belong here , the shame is we have too many who don't .
Boys....you are confusing me.
I think what loyalist said is true.
Todays Canada has no place for the likes of smoky.
But you have to go further with the analysis/rebuttal?
I think what loyalist is saying (but I admit trying to speak for another person is intrinsically wrong..but I'll
do it anyway till you guys clear the air) is that the antics and accomplishments of this guy would definitely not be trumpeted or extolled by our present gov't......trudeau and everyone post trudeau.
I wonder if the CBC will even mention it?
Do you think any of Canada's major newspapers will have
some big spread on it. Do you think people like Carolyn
Parish or Paul Martin (who showed up a day late during
D-Day ceremonies overseas) would make some kind of
positive comment on the behalf of this very ordinary dude
who obviously lived with heightened reactive instinct to
kill or be killed?
Not that this has anything to do with this but was
smoky gifted intellectually and academically or was he
just an average snow?
The buzzwords in Todays Canada are multiculturalism, official bilingualism, distinct society, gay marriage, refugee status, illegal immigration, special interest groups, racial intolerance (unless you are unfortunate enough to be white and english like smoky), special privileges and services for immigrants...and last but not least......other peoples traditions and cultures can over ride and secede the current Canadian cultures and traditions..and if you say
anything you are branded as an intolerant racist.
I think this is what Loyalist was saying.
Snowyman threw in a comment that can be interpreted in two
ways. On the one hand he says he disagrees with loyalist, but on the other hand he says "guys like snowy belong here but it is a shame we have too many who don't"? Now he is either crticizing
the likes of Loyalist and is happy with todays Canada
and its status quo.....or he is agreeing with his
statement after disagreeing?
Please clarify?
BTW....you should remember that your Dad was touring a WAR
museum. I would expect the staff you spoke of knew your
dad was a veteran. I would not expect him to have any troubles there and there reaction was quite logical.
Heck.....they would probably be like that with any old
man whether he was a vet or not. The young people they have
working at places like this are well versed in etiquette.
If he was walking around in his old uniform or out of uniform in most other places in canada (anywhere else in ottawa, downtown toronto or other parts of socialist, peace loving canada) you might
be surprised by the lack of attention or negative reaction
he might get. The point I am making is that you can't
give a real reflection on how todays young society views
the world wars or veterans for that matter based on the
reaction you get a war museum.
That's it ..that's all.
In closing.....I will say that War sucks and it is a terrible thing to be in. It is too bad the world is not
run by people who believe in john lennon's fairy tale imagine...but man was born of sin and the closest we'll get
to lennons imagine is in dreams only.
Sounds like Smoky was a real common sense kind of man. Aside from the respect I have for him for his honorable service, I think I would have liked him on a personal level.
Scotch sunrise
RIP
"Liked to kill the enemy with an Indian War club studded with nails""
What a card.
Really , maybe you're just naturally confused.
I think what loyalist is saying (but I admit trying to speak for another person is intrinsically wrong..but I'll do it anyway till you guys clear the air) is that the antics and accomplishments of this guy would definitely not be trumpeted or extolled by our present gov't......trudeau and everyone post trudeau.
If that's what he was saying , you are both wrong.
I wonder if the CBC will even mention it?
It was mentioned on the CBC and they will be televising his funeral .
Do you think any of Canada's major newspapers will have some big spread on it.
Name one that didn't. Ottawa Citizen had his picture above the fold on the front page and a half page on his life on A3.
Do you think people like Carolyn Parish
Why would I care? Do you?
Paul Martin would make some kind of positive comment on the behalf of this very ordinary dude .
Canadian flags will be lowered to half-mast on Tuesday on government buildings, when Ernest (Smoky) Smith's remains will lie in the foyer of the House of Commons. His remains will also lie at the Seaforth Armoury in Vancouver, home to his regiment, the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, before he is buried in a full military funeral Aug. 13.
"I look forward to joining fellow Canadians in paying this last tribute to Sgt. 'Smoky' Smith - a great hero and man of honour," Prime Minister Paul Martin said Thursday in a release.
The buzzwords in Todays Canada
This isn't about buzz words.
Please clarify?
I'm saying some get it , Some never will. If you don't get it you never really belong here.
BTW....you should remember that your Dad was touring a WAR museum.
Yes a brand new WAR Museum, opened this spring at a cost of several hundred million dollars. Brought to you , if you ever get interested in actually visiting the place , by the people of Canada .
The young people they have working at places like this are well versed in etiquette. If he was walking around in his old uniform or out of uniform in most other places in canada (anywhere else in ottawa, downtown toronto or other parts of socialist, peace loving canada) you might be surprised by the lack of attention or negative reaction he might get.The point I am making is that you can't give a real reflection on how todays young society views the world wars or veterans for that matter based on the reaction you get a war museum. That's it ..that's all.
Yeah I've noticed the reaction old Vets get when they visit schools . Or march. Especially on November 11th. .
Perhaps you should go and stand in front of the Smoky Smith display at the museum , it's not very big but it is there . It is there so ALL the people who choose to visit will know his story. Might help your confusion.
Or try visiting a cenothap this November . Thousands of Canada's young do it every year. Call it etiquette , Call it what ever. They get it . That's why he belongs here.
The Department of National Defense, in conjunction with The Royal Canadian Legion is coordinating arrangements for the funeral and burial service, which will include a public ceremony.
http://www.pacificlegion.org/smokeysmith1.html
First of all it is easy to come online with your comments
after the dust settled for a few days, following the accolades from the federal gov't and the media.
I do have to say that I am pleasantly surprised. Just when
I think Canada is at the bottom of the barrel I get surprised with "normal" and expected "reactions", as opposed to all the abnormal and unexpected reactions one
usually gets from these two sources. I was
taken aback and I was wrong about that aspect. I admit it.
Secondly, people should care about the likes of Carolyn
parish. I think you should remember that Canada gets alot
of air time down in the states and people like Carolyn
aren't doing any favours with regards to the perception
of Canadians south of the border....and yes that is something we should all be concerned about.
As far as Paul Martin....once again pleasantly surprised.
Good job Paul. I was wrong again.
You are right........this isn't about buzzwords. Another
topic for another discussion.
What you said about a child's perception of a veteran
in or out of uniform is correct. I wasn't talking about
kids here. I was talking about adults and the general non
innocent adult population. And I wasn't talking about
commemoration ceremonies at a local cenotaph (sp). Of
course you have respect at these events because the
disrespectful stay away. You don't see athiests protesting
religion in a Catholic Church do you?
BTW...I am ex Military myself.
All I can say is when I see things like this perhaps there
is hope for Canada yet...but this is just a brief moment of
light in an otherwise darkened tunnel.
I think you should be keeping things in perspective here
and thoroughly evaluate how the Canada of today is being
governed and how the system in Canada works. Although once
again another topic for another discussion.
I suppose I mistakenly let this variance creep into this
conversation when it should not have creeped in.
This topic was about honouring a war veteran. The country
is going to do that, much to my surprise and it is
very nice to see.
I should re-iterate if there is one thing I am
not it is confused. Maybe when I am deciding on what kind
of beer I should be picking up given the circumstances
at my time of choosing.....but that's about it.
One thing to munch on..........Why isn't November 11th in
Canada a national holiday, like Veterans Day in the United
States....hmm......Shucks I guess I am confused on that one
also? Oh yea....whatever happened to the line "Merry Christmas in the Canadian Media"?
I wonder what guys like Smoky thought of that?Again....another discussion for another topic.
Finally I really have to hammer on your line "some get it,
some never will. If you don't get it you don't belong here".
You are right. But I will tell you there are millions
in Canada (and more than we would like to think) that
don't get it. I don't think I have to explain this one
to you. Unless you want me too?
I've nothing but respect for the likes of smoky smith.
I feel the same about a war hero or just a clerk who
served in the war. They were all there for the same
reason contributing in their own unique way.
Have a nice day.
Stimulating conversation anyway.
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