soldiers
What was the occupation of Ernest Smith from Mar 1940 to 1945?
Ernest Smith Ernest Alvia Smokey Smith ( 3 May 1914 – 3 August 2005 ) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces . He was the last living Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross . Early life and career . Born in New Westminster , British Columbia , Smith came of age during the Great Depression and , along with many others , struggled to find steady employment . He was 25 when he joined the Canadian Army on 5 March 1940 , becoming part of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada . In 1943 , he first entered into combat . On 10 July 1943 , he was part of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division landing in Sicily , remaining active throughout the Sicily and Italian campaign between July 1943 and February 1945 . On the night of 21/22 October 1944 at the River Savio , in northern Italy , Private Smith was in the spearhead of the attack which established a bridgehead over the river . With a PIAT anti-tank launcher he disabled a Mark V Panther tank at a range of just 30 feet ( 10 metres ) , and while protecting a wounded comrade , killed four panzergrenadiers and routed six others . When another tank was sent to take out his position , he used another PIAT to damage it enough to cause it to retreat . He then carried his wounded comrade , and later joined a counterattack to disperse the Germans still attacking his previous position . The squad destroyed three Panther tanks , two self-propelled artillery pieces , a half-track , a scout car , and a few German soldiers . Smith had been promoted to corporal nine times , but demoted back to private each time prior to his actions at the River Savio . He later achieved the rank of sergeant . Later military career . King George VI bestowed the VC on Smith personally at Buckingham Palace . Allegedly , Smith was placed in a jail cell in Rome the night before he was to be commended for his actions at Savio , in order to keep him out of trouble ; for years , Smith would neither confirm nor deny that such a measure was enacted . However in a 2003 interview with MacLeans Magazine’s Ken MacQueen , Smith described the event : “I got locked up in Naples . They just wanted Smoky to be in the right spot . When I was first locked up , I was thinking , what the hell ? But then they gave me a couple of beers and I was very happy.” Smith was asked what was it like to meet the King ? “It was kind of astounding . I go to Buckingham Palace and I say to the guard , “What am I supposed to do?” He says , “You do exactly as I do : take a bow from the hips.” I said , “Oh Christ , you think I’m going to do that , you’re crazy.” I just saluted and that was it . I was given the VC and told to put it in my pocket . I wasn’t allowed to wear it for at least three days so the Canadian newspapers would have it the same time as the British ones . So for three days , I’m sitting in a bar in London drinking to beat hell . Someone came and said , “Okay , Smoky , you can put on that medal now.” So I took it out and put it on my chest , and I never bought another drink that day.” After receiving the VC , Smokey Smith was made a poster boy for the Canadian War Bonds drive . Smith left the service after World War II , but returned in 1950 when he re-enlisted during the Korean War . Because of his iconic status , he was not put into combat . He retired from service again in 1964 , having served for some time in Vancouver as a recruiting sergeant . As a result of his extended service , he received the Canadian Forces Decoration for 12 years of service . He was an honorary member of the Royal Military College of Canada , student # S132 . Civilian life . In 1947 , Smith wed Esther Weston and subsequently sired two children , David and Norma-Jean . After his retirement from the military , Smith opened a travel agency with his wife , Smith Travel , which was in operation from 1969 to 1992 . During these years , Smith regularly visited sites related to World War II with clients . The couple retired in 1992 , and Smiths wife died four years later , in 1996 . In his later years , as the number of living veterans began to grow thin , Smokey found himself the last living Canadian VC recipient in 2000 . By this time Smith was retired and devoted much of his time to helping his fellow veterans , making frequent public appearances all over the world to assist in Remembrance Day ceremonies and greeting the Queen after her arrival during an official visit . He appeared in May 2000 in representation of the veterans of Canada at the consecration ceremony of Canadas Tomb of the Unknown Soldier , having aided in negotiations for the return of those remains . Smith was also on hand to unveil a Canadian postage stamp featuring both the British and Canadian versions of the Victoria Cross in 2004 . The Canadian Pacific Railway dedicated a railcar in his honour on November 29 , 2003 . Smith was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada on November 15 , 1995 and received the honour in a ceremony on February 15 , 1996 . He became a Member of the Order of British Columbia in 2002 . Gary Pawson nominated him for the Order of British Columbia starting in 1997 , and each year following until he was finally so honoured . He was originally passed over for this honour until Clifford Chadderton , the British Columbia Ministry of Veterans Affairs , and several other organizations , wrote letters to the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia in his support . Death and funeral . Smokey Smith died at his home in Vancouver on August 3 , 2005 at the age of 91 . His body was placed in the foyer of the House of Commons to lie in state on August 9 , 2005 , making him only the ninth person to be accorded this honour ; government flags flew at half-mast on that day . He lay in repose at Vancouvers Seaforth Armoury on August 12 , with a full military funeral in Vancouver on August 13 . His ashes were scattered at sea in the Gulf of Georgia . Memorials . Smith donated his VC and medals to the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in his will . The regiment has his Victoria Cross decoration and his full sized medals are [ in 2011 ] in a safe deposit box . The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Museum and Archives had a replica VC and set of medals and a generic World War II uniform on display . Three original uniforms from his Black Watch period were donated to three museums by his daughter in 2011 , one each to the Black Watch Museum in Montreal , the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Museum and Archives in Vancouver and the New Westminster Museum and Archives . His 1947 dated battledress blouse and one of his Glengarries are in a private collection . The Ernest Smith Park was erected as a memorial by Ottawa , Ontario assisted by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 638 ( Kanata ) , and is dedicated to Private Ernest Alvia Smith , VC , CM , OBC , C.D . Honours and awards . - He received the Honorary degree of Doctor of Military Science from the Royal Military College of Canada on 18 January 2001 . External links . - Obituary in The Globe and Mail - Obituary in The Toronto Star - Smokey Smiths ashes flown to Ottawa - Order of Canada Citation - CBC radio archives clip about Smokey - Veterans Affair Canada biography page : SMITH , Ernest Alvia - CBC transcript – Smokey is interviewed but the transcriber lists him as Unidentified Veteran - new release about Smokeys OBC - VIDEO CLIP CBC news 29 October 2004 – Smokey returns to Italy 60 years later - Canada Veterans Affair photogallery