23 Facts About Ernest Smith

Ernest Smith was the last living Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross.

Ernest Smith was 25 when he joined the Canadian Army on 5 March 1940, becoming part of The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada.

Ernest Smith participated in the fierce Battle of Ortona in December 1943.

Ernest Smith then carried his wounded comrade and applied medical relief.

Ernest Smith destroyed in total three Panther tanks, two self-propelled artillery pieces, a half-track, a scout car, and a large number of German soldiers.

Ernest Smith had been promoted to corporal nine times, but demoted back to private each time prior to his actions at the River Savio.

Private Ernest Smith, still showing utter contempt for enemy fire, helped his wounded friend to cover and obtained medical aid for him behind a nearby building.

Ernest Smith then returned to his position beside the road to await the possibility of a further enemy attack.

Allegedly, Ernest 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, Ernest Smith would neither confirm nor deny that such a measure was enacted.

Ernest Smith left the service after World War II, but returned in 1950 when he re-enlisted during the Korean War.

Ernest Smith retired from service again in 1964, having served for some time in Vancouver as a recruiting sergeant.

In 1947, Ernest Smith wed Esther Weston, with whom he had two children, David and Norma-Jean.

The couple retired in 1992, and Ernest Smith's wife died four years later, in 1996.

Ernest Smith 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.

Ernest Smith was on hand to unveil a Canadian postage stamp featuring both the British and Canadian versions of the Victoria Cross in 2004.

Ernest 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.

Ernest Smith became a Member of the Order of British Columbia in 2002.

Ernest Smith 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.

Smokey Ernest Smith died at his home in Vancouver on August 3,2005, at the age of 91.

Ernest Smith's 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.

Ernest Smith's ashes were scattered at sea in the Gulf of Georgia.

Ernest Smith donated his VC and medals to the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in his will.

Ernest Smith's 1947 dated battledress blouse and one of his Glengarries are in a private collection.