323 www.on.legion.ca SMERDON, Allen Kent Born and raised in Toronto, Kent joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1969. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science and Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston, Ontario, graduating in 1973. During his career, he flew a variety of aircraft in the Regular Forces and the Reserves. Those included the CF-101 Voodoo interceptor on the front lines of NORAD with 409 “Nighthawk” Squadron in Comox, BC and 410 “Cougar” Squadron in Bagotville, Quebec and the Canadair Challender as Flight Commander at 412 (VIP) squadron in Ottawa. He retired from the RCAF at the rank of Major after serving nineteen years. Kent was hired by Air Canada in 1980. During his 31-year career, he was type-rated on many aircraft in the fleet including the Boeing 747 and the 767. He retired as Captain in 2010 with over 19,000 flight hours. He is the author of “Flight Lines, Assorted Lies, Recollections and War Stories”. Kent lives in Barrie, Ontario with Liz, his bride of 54 years. He is an active member of 441 (Huronia) Wing of the RCAF Association in Barrie, and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 147, also in Barrie. SMIES, Age Egbertus “Aga” Aga was born on August 3, 1947 in Heerlen, Netherlands. He was sworn into the Canadian Army on May 4, 1976, one day before officially becoming a Canadian citizen. That same year, he trained at the CAF School of Music in Esquimalt, British Columbia, and Ipperwash, Ontario. As Director of Music, his primary mandate was to rebuild the military band. He also contributed to recruitment and basic training, served on the District Commander’s Cabinet, and acted as Music Advisor to the Chief of Reserves, Rear Admiral Tom Smith. Under his leadership, the band performed and recorded across a broad region from Windsor/Detroit to Toronto/Borden. He served as Co-Director of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Tattoo and, alongside Colonel Eugene Whelan, helped open all band positions to women. After twelve years and a relocation from Windsor, he transferred to the CIC, conducting courses and tours throughout Alberta, the Yukon, and Ontario. He is a recipient of the Canadian Forces Decoration and the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal, and takes pride in the strong foundation he built for the band and the many careers he helped shape in both the Reserve and Regular Forces. He is a 55-year member of The Royal Canadian Legion Lakefield Branch 77. SMITH, Charles Wesley Charles Wesley Smith was born in Zephyr, Ontario, on April 4, 1891, to Charles Smith and Harriet Reid. Charles had been part of the 12th York Rangers and enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) in the rank of Private with the 127th Battalion, C.E.F. on December 20, 1915. He sailed with the 127th to Liverpool aboard the S.S. Olympic, August 24, 1916. At Witley, England, he was transferred to the 1st Construction Battalion. On October 15, 1916, he arrived in France, and on February 9, 1917, his battalion was renamed the 1st Canadian Railway Troops. As part of an engineering regiment, his rank was changed to Sapper, and he was with his unit for over a year, facilitating the movement of ammunition and soldiers in the rear area of the British lines. Charles began suffering abdominal pain in the summer of 1917. While on leave from France in December 1917, his condition worsened and he was admitted to the Bramshott Hospital in England January 23, 1918, where he underwent a series of operations. Charles was listed as “Seriously ill” and died of complications from appendicitis on February 16, 1918. He was 26 years old. Charles Wesley Smith is buried in Bramshott Churchyard, England. We Will Remember Them Ontario Command
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