209 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca SMART, William J. WWII William was born in Kisbey, SK, in 1923. He enlisted in January 1942 in Winnipeg with the Calgary Tanks and drove Sherman, Ram Tanks and others, serving in the UK, Sicily, Italy and NW Europe. He was wounded in Italy twice and spent time in the hospital in Rome. He passed away in 2000 at home in Milwaukee, the same time as the Towers were destroyed in New York. He had been a member of Russell Branch #159 of The Royal Canadian Legion for over five years. SMELLIE, Robert Gordon WWII Robert was born in Russell, Manitoba, in 1923. He joined the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, serving in France. Within weeks of surviving D-Day, landing at Juno Beach in Normandy, Bob was wounded and evacuated to England for treatment and recovery. Officer training followed and he received his commission as a Lieutenant. He retained a close relationship with his wartime regiment and in 1986, was appointed Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment. His service in the community included volunteer work at the Deer Lodge Centre and with organizations like the Heart Foundation and the Manitoba and Canadian Bar Associations. Bob joined the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires in 1978 as a Governor of the Manitoba Division. In 2003, he was awarded a Queen’s Jubilee Medal. Robert passed away in 2005, and was a member of Russell Branch #159 of The Royal Canadian Legion. SMITH, James W. WWI James joined the 222nd Battalion and was assigned to the 116th Forestry Corps serving in England. No more information is available. SMITH, A. Ralph WWII Ralph was born in Roland, Manitoba, in 1914. He joined the 4th Armoured Division, 12th Field Dressing Station in 1942, at age 28. He embarked for the UK on July 21, 1943, and for France on July 21, 1944, landing at Ryhes near Bayeaux and on to Belgium, Holland and Germany. His training started at Fort Osborne Barracks then Camp Shilo, Vancouver and Camp Debert, NS. He was stationed in Sussex, England, and billeted in premises known as Trulls Hatch for nine months. On July 24, 1944, they drove their vehicles off the LST410 onto two platforms of the floating dock and were rolling along the pontoon bridge toward the beaches of France, and at one point were bombed by allied planes due to error and lack of communication. After the cease-fire on May 5, 1945, Ralph signed up for the South Pacific and was sent back to Canada and was discharged on January 25, 1946. He passed away in 1986 and had been a member of Roland Branch #48 of The Royal Canadian Legion for forty years.
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