Ernest Smith Ernest Alvia ( " Smokey " ) Smith , VC , CM , OBC , CD ( 3 May 1914 – 3 August 2005 ) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious 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 in 1943 and 1944 . 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 put an enemy tank out of action at a range of 30 feet ( 10 metres ) , and while protecting a wounded comrade , he destroyed another tank and two self - propelled gun s , and routed a number of the enemy infantry . During his career , Smith was promoted to corporal nine times , but subsequently demoted back to private nine times 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 . 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 Smith ' s 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 Canada ' s 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 performed 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 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 Vancouver ' s 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 . The medal . 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 .