Name: Charles Nathan Morton Smith Rank: Private Service Number: 931215 Service: No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force Date of Birth: August 1, 1889 Place of Birth: Birchtown, Shelburne Co., NS Date of Enlistment: August 27, 1916 Age at Enlistment: 27 Place of Enlistment: Yarmouth, NS Address of Enlistment: Yarmouth, NS Height: 5 feet, 2 inches Previous Military: 29th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Yarmouth, NS Trade: Bootblack Marital Status: Married Next of Kin: Maud Estella Smith (Wife), Barnard St, Yarmouth, NS Religion: African Methodist Episcopal Trade: Bootblack Date of Discharge: February 22, 1919 (Halifax) Service: Canada, England, France Date of Death: December 15, 1973 Age: 84 Cemetery: Mountain Cemetery, Yarmouth, NS Charles Nathan Morton Smith (known as Nathan Smith) was the son of George William Smith (b. 1830) and Sarah Jane (Pomp) Smith (b. 1849). His parents were married on December 30, 1870, in Granville Ferry, Annapolis Co., NS. His father was a clergyman. Nathan married Maud Estella McKinnon on May 9, 1911, in Yarmouth, NS. They had four sons Robert James, Eric, Donald, and Charles. Prior to his enlistment Nathan served with the 29th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery in Yarmouth, NS. Having enlisted with the No 2 Construction Battalion, he completed initial training in Canada between August 1916 and March 1917. He embarked Halifax on March 28, 1917, on the SS Southland disembarking at Liverpool on April 7, 1917. The Battalion unit was based at Seaford, East Sussex, England from April 18, 1917. Following ten days of quarantine, which was normal for arriving recruits, they were employed on work parties digging trenches for troops in training. They also maintained roads with the expanding base. The Battalion embarked England at Folkstone and disembarked in France on May 17, 1917, at Boulogne. They proceeded east to the area of Lajoux in the Jura mountains, the wooded area at the foothills of the Alps, joining No 5 District, Canadian Forestry Corps. The Battalion had responsibility that included construction and maintenance of waterworks, maintenance of roads, and overall responsibility for the districts shipping and receiving. While in the field, Private Smith was awarded the Good Conduct Badge on August 27, 1918, and was granted fourteen days leave to the United Kingdom on September 20, 1918. He rejoined his unit in France on September 30, 1918. He returned to England on December 14, 1918 in preparation for his return to Canada. Private Smith departed England January 12, 1919, aboard the Empress of Britain, arriving in Halifax on January 22, 1919. He was discharged on demobilization on February 22, 1919, in Halifax. Nathan Smith was ordained in 1929 with the Sharon Assembly Church. The Sharon Gospel Assembly Church at 10 East Street in Yarmouth was known originally as the Disney Chapel, named after Right Rev. Richard Randolph Disney. Prior to the ordination of Rev. Nathan Smith, Wilfrid Jones Davidson (Service No. 931158) who also served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion, was Pastor of the Disney Chapel from 1923-1928. Originally a carpenter, Wilfrid was discharged in Feb 1919 and returned to his mother’s home at Halifax. After his marriage in 1920 he began theological studies. Rev. Smith died December 15, 1973, at the age of 84 in Yarmouth and is buried at the Mountain Cemetery in Yarmouth, NS.

Sources: Library and Archives Canada Photo of Rev. Smith - courtesy of Charles (Chuck) Smith, grandson