Robert Smith - Lest We Forget

Robert Smith was born October 4, 1873 at Waterloo, Ontario. On his attestation papers he gave his sister, Miss Jane W. Smith, as his next of kin. In 1914 he was working as a surveyor for the B.C. Land Survey. He was active in the local militia, the 102nd RMR. The local newspaper stated that he was a civil engineer who had lived in Revelstoke since 1904. When war broke out in 1914 his name was frequently mentioned as being active in the Home Guard and taking part in practice shooting.

 Robert Smith signed his enlistment papers on September 29, 1915 at Vancouver. His regimental number was 129840. He was 41 years old, single 5’ 10” tall with brown hair and brown eyes. His religious affiliation was Anglican. He was medically examined in Revelstoke by Dr. W.H. Sutherland.

 Robert Smith left Halifax on the Empress of Britain on April 22, 1916, and arrived in Liverpool on May 5. He proceeded for overseas service on August 12, 1917, and died just one month later on September 15, 1916 during the battle of the Somme. He was 42 years old. At the time of his death he was a Private with the 72nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia) Regiment. He is buried at the Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium.

 The September 30, 1916 edition of the Mail-Herald newspaper reported on his death:  “Robert L. Smith killed in action Somewhere in France. Mrs. Scafe of the Post Office department received a letter yesterday from Private Robert L. Smith’s sister advising her that he was killed in action somewhere in France on September 15. “Bob,” as he was known to his many friends…had lived in Revelstoke for the past 12 years, being one of the best civil engineers in the district. Before coming to Revelstoke he spent a number of years in Rossland.  He was…a graduate of the Toronto University. He leaves his mother, a brother and two sisters. The late Private Smith left with the 72nd Highlanders and passed through Revelstoke on his way to the front in May.”

 The name of Robert Smith is inscribed on the Courthouse and Cenotaph plaques. It is also inscribed on the chancel screen at St. Peter’s Anglican Church.

Rocky Mountain Rangers militia at Revelstoke Drill Hall, circa 1906. Robert Smith is in the bottom row (behind buglers), 4th from left. P764