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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
SMITH, Larry Douglas, PO, ERA 4c, V70453, RCNVR, killed - 04 Oct 1944, HMCS CHEBOGUE - Son of Robert Henry and Edith May Smith, of Brantford, Ontario; husband of Dorothy Smith, of Brantford.
SMITH, Larry Douglas - 24, lost his life on October 4, 1944, after the Frigate Chebogue had been torpedoed by an enemy submarine and the story that surrounds the action is one of heroism to inspire all other brave men who follow the sea. For hours the Chebogue had trailed the submarine, when suddenly it dived and let loose its deadly explosives. P.O. Smith was blown into the water, terribly wounded. A/B K. R. Holloway, on a passing ship in the convoy, and who by coincidence was a Brantfordite, saw him and went to his rescue. But despite the courage of A/B Holloway, who was Mentioned in Dispatches for his bravery, P.O. Smith succumbed eight hours later. With full naval honors he was lowered to rest in the sea bringing to a close an R.C.N.V.R. career that had begun early in the spring of 1943. Born at St. George, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Smith, who now reside at 125 Sydenham St., P.O. Smith moved to Brantford with his family when he was small and attended primary school here and also the Collegiate Institute and Vocational School. He was a member of the Rawdon Street Mission. P.O. Smith had a different and rather unusual hobby, that of cooking. He came by the knowledge of it through his mother who for long years was a cook at the Bodega Tavern. On Christmas night, after Mrs. Smith had finished her working day, she would come home to find her own dinner prepared by her son. It was not an idle hobby because, during the period when factory work was not plentiful, the able cook found employment at some of the local hotels. His hobby was his "umbrella" for a rainy day. Besides his mother, he is survived by his widow and son, Larry Alfred.
Ships served in: HMCS STAR - Enlisted 07 Sep 1943. Commenced Active Service 29 Sep 1943 HMCS YORK - Served in YORK 08 Oct 1943 - 08 Nov 1943 HMCS GIVENCHY (Depot Ship for C.N. 387) - Recorded on the books of Depot Ship GIVENCHY 18 Feb 1944 for CHEBOGUE while under construction HMCS CHEBOGUE - Drafted to CHEBOGUE 24 Feb 1944 as an A/ERA 4c, RCNVR
(LS01-LS02) Certificate of Service - pages 1 and 2 (LS03) Report of Death (LS04-LS05) Letters to ERA Smith's wife
Second World War Casualty Index
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