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Wartime Heritage
ASSOCIATION
Remembering World War I
Yarmouth Connections
Name:
Frederick Smith
Regimental Number:
1099379
Rank:
Sapper
Battalion:
256th Railway Construction Battalion
Date of Birth:
August 30, 1898
Place of Birth:
Yarmouth, NS
Date of Enlistment:
February 3, 1917
Place of Enlistment:
Yarmouth, NS
Address at Enlistment:
Yarmouth, NS
Age at Enlistment:
19
Height:
5 feet, 5 inches
Complexion:
Medium
Eye Colour:
Grey
Hair Colour:
Brown
Marital Status:
Married
Trade:
Teamster
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Next of Kin:
Catherine Smith (Wife) Main St., Yarmouth NS
Date of Death:
October 23, 1917
Age at Death:
20
Cemetery:
Ridge Wood Military Cemetery, Belgium
Grave Reference:
I. U. 5.
Commemorated on Page 328 of the First World War Book of Remembrance
Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on July 17
Listed on the St. Ambrose Church Tablet, Yarmouth, NS
Commemorated on the Yarmouth Monument; listed as “Edgar J. Smith”
Frederick was the son of Edgar J. Smith and Annie Smith of Yarmouth, NS. He married Catherine LeBlanc on
June 6, 1916. He served, prior to his WWI service, with the 29th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, Yarmouth
NS. His enlistment papers give his age as 19 years; however, the marriage certificate lists his age as 21 years
in 1916.
Enlisting at Yarmouth on February 3, 1917, with the 256th Railway Construction Battalion, he went overseas
on the SS Northland arriving in Liverpool, England on March 29, 1917. He disembarked in France on June
19, 1917, and was served with the 10th Canadian Railway Troops. Sapper Smith was killed by enemy shell
fire on October 23, 1917.
The following letter was sent to his mother:
Frederick Smith
Dear Mrs. Smith:
It is with a great deal of sadness that I now extend to you and Mr. Smith my deepest
sympathy for the loss of your son, Fred. It is very sad indeed to think that one so young and so
devoted to duty should be one of those to fall, yet it is good to know that he died while at work
under very great odds.
He was killed doing his bit. The end cam instantaneously so you may rest assured that
there was no long suffering. He proved himself a good soldier - an honest willing and devoted
worker.
Although he was smaller and not nearly so strong as the rest, he did his work cheerfully and
was a friend to all.
The body was laid away in a military cemetery Somewhere in France, A Roman Catholic
Chaplain officiating.
...
J. R. Parrott
10th Canadian Railway Troops