Robert Bruin Comings Smith - Lest We Forget

 Robert Bruin Comings Smith was born December 17, 1883 at Chester, Nova Scotia. He was the son of Curran and Annie Frances Smith, of Chester, Nova Scotia. Robert likely arrived in the Arrowhead area between 1906 and 1908 with his father Curran and brother Winton. Robert worked as an engineer on the sternwheelers or tugboats plying the Arrow Lakes.

 Robert Smith signed his enlistment papers July 6, 1915 at Vernon. His regimental number was 443326. He was 31 years old, single, 5’ 9” tall with dark hair and grey eyes. His religious affiliation was Presbyterian. He was one of about 100 men from the Revelstoke/Arrowhead area who enlisted with the 54th Battalion in the spring and summer of 1915. The local newspaper reported that in the summer of 1915 there was only one unmarried male of military age living in Arrowhead. All the rest had joined up.

 Robert Smith died on July 4, 1919 onboard the ship Araguaya. He had been admitted to hospital in England on April 22, 1919, and was diagnosed with acute endocarditis, which is an infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and heart valves. He was invalided back to Canada, but died during the voyage, and was buried at sea. He is memorialized at the Hollybrook Memorial, Hampshire, United Kingdom.

 In July of 1919 Robert Smith would have been 35 years old. He held the rank of Sergeant with the 54th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario) Regiment.

 The name of Robert Smith is inscribed on the Courthouse and Cenotaph plaques under the Arrowhead listing.