"Smokey" Smith won the VC during the Italian campaign in 1943.
Here he is seen in his home in the Vancouver area in 1988.
Citation
In Italy on the night of 21st-22nd October 1944, a Canadian Infantry Brigade
was ordered to establish a bridgehead across the Savio River. The Seaforth
Highlanders of Canada were selected as the spearhead of the attack, and
in weather most unfavourable to the operation they crossed the river and
captured their objective in spite of strong opposition from the enemy.
Torrential rain had caused the Savio River to rise six feet in five hours,
and as the soft vertical banks made it impossible to bridge the river no
tanks or anti-tank guns could be taken across the raging stream to the support
of the rifle companies.
As the right forward company was consolidating its objective it was suddenly
counter-attacked by a troop of three Mark V Panther tanks supported by two
self-propelled guns and about thirty infantry and the situation appeared
hopeless.
Under heavy fire from the approaching enemy tanks, Private Smith, showing
great initiative and inspiring leadership, led his P.I.A.T.(1) Group of
two men across an open field to a position from which the P.I.A.T. could
best be employed. Leaving one man on the weapon, Private Smith crossed the
road with a companion and obtained another P.I.A.T. Almost immediately an
enemy tank came down the road firing its machine-guns along the line of
the ditches. Private Smith's comrade was wounded. At a range of thirty feet
and having to expose himself to the full view of the enemy, Private Smith
fired the P.I.A.T. and hit the tank, putting it out of action. Ten German
infantry immediately jumped off the back of the tank and charged him with
Schmeissers and grenades. Without hesitation Private Smith moved out on
the road and with his Tommy gun at point-blank range, killed four Germans
and drove the remainder back. Almost immediately another tank opened fire
and more enemy infantry closed in on Smith's position. Obtaining some abandoned
Tommy gun magazines from a ditch, he steadfastly held his position, protecting
his comrade and fighting the enemy with his Tommy gun until they finally
gave up and withdrew in disorder.
One tank and both self-propelled guns had been destroyed by this time, but
yet another tank swept the area with fire from a longer range. Private Smith,
still showing utter contempt for enemy fire, helped his wounded friend to
cover and obtained medical aid for him behind a nearby building. He then
returned to his position beside the road to await the possibility of a further
enemy attack.
No further immediate attack developed, and as a result the battalion was
able to consolidate the bridgehead position so vital to the success of the
whole operation, which led to the capture of San Giorgio Di Cesena and a
further advance to the Ronco River.
Thus, by the dogged determination, outstanding devotion to duty and superb
gallantry of this private soldier, his comrades were so inspired that the
bridgehead was held firm against all enemy attacks, pending the arrival
of tanks and anti-tank guns some hours later.'
The London Gazette, 20th December 1944
(1) Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank gun.
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