They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
SMITH, Arthur John, PO Tel, V9368, RCNVR, MPK - 06 Feb 1943, HMCS LOUISBURG - Son of Byron and Jessie Smith, of St. James, Manitoba.
PO Tel Smith died when his ship, HMCS LOUISBURG, which was on convoy duty in the Mediterranean, was sunk by bombs and torpedoes from Italian aircraft.
Petty Officer Telegraphist Arthur J. Smith was one of the four Greater Winnipeg seamen reported missing, presumed killed in action following the loss of the Canadian corvette, Louisburg, early this month. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Bryon Smith, 236 Kensington street, St. James. He held the rank of petty officer telegraphist and was a member of the R.C.N.V.R. reserve for eight years prior to the outbreak of war. Petty Officer Smith was born in St. James in 1912 and received his education at Britannia, Assiniboine and Linwood collegiate. He was a member of the junior Legion and the Y.M.C.A., and was founder and past president of the St. James Roughriders Rugby club, and at one time a member of the team. Prior to the outbreak of war he was employed as a clerk in the C.N.R. and enlisted for active service on September 12, 1939. He served for many months as a wireless operator. (Transcription for newspaper article)
Ships served in: WINNIPEG DIVISION RCNVR - Enlisted 17 Feb 1932 HMCS NADEN - Served in NADEN 13 Jun - 25 Jun 1932 for annual training as a OS, RCNVR HMCS NADEN - Served in NADEN 14 May 1933 - 27 May 1933 for annual training as an OS, RCNVR HMCS NADEN - Served in NADEN 09 Jul 1934 - 21 Jul 1934 for annual training as an AB, RCNVR * Re-Enrolled 17 Feb 1935 HMS DANAE - Served in DANAE 06 Jul 1935 - 16 Aug 1935 for annual training as an A/Tel, RCNVR HMCS SKEENA - Served in SKEENA 05 Jul 1936 - 25 Jul 1936 for annual training as an A/Tel, RCNVR HMCS SKEENA - Served in SKEENA 18 Jan 1937 - 27 Mar 1937 for annual training as a Tel, RCNVR HMCS FRASER - Served in FRASER 29 Mar 1937 - 02 May 1937 for annual training as a Tel, RCNVR * Re-Enrolled 17 Feb 1938 HMCS NADEN - Served in NADEN 04 Jul 1938 - 16 Jul 1938 for annual training as a Tel, RCNVR HMCS NADEN - Served in NADEN 03 Jul 1939 - 15 Jul 1939 for annual training as an A/L/Tel, RCNVR * 15 Sep 1939 - Commenced Active Service HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 15 Sep 1939 as a L/Tel, RCNVR * Rated A/PO Tel 18 Oct 1940 HMCS VENTURE - Drafted to VENTURE 10 Feb 1941 as an A/PO Tel, RCNVR * Rated PO Tel 18 Oct 1941 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 01 May 1942 as a PO Tel, RCNVR HMCS NIOBE - Drafted to NIOBE 07 Jan 1943 as a PO Tel, RCNVR HMCS WOODSTOCK - Drafted to WOODSTOCK 19 Jan 1943 as a PO Tel, RCNVR HMCS LOUISBURG - Drafted to LOUISBURG 21 Jan 1943 as a PO Tel, RCNVR
(AS01) Documents from the Service File of Arthur John Smith (AS02) Article from the Winnipeg Evening Tribune on the death of PO Tel Arthur Smith
Second World War Casualty Index
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