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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
SMITH, Robert, AB, 3317, RCN, MPK - 22 Oct 1940, HMCS MARGAREE - Son of Peter Robert and Emma Smith, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Able Seaman Smith died when his ship, HMCS MARGAREE, was struck by the freighter SS Port Fairy while in convoy and was sunk. 143 of her crew were lost, 86 of them were survivors of HMCS FRASER.
Ordinary Seaman Robert Smith, 20, joined the navy at Esquimalt, on September 14, 1939 and was among the survivors of the Destroyer Fraser when it sank off the coast of France after colliding with another vessel. Smith was born in Winnipeg and attended Cecil Rhodes school. His last visit to Winnipeg was for three weeks in June. His mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. P.R. Smith live at 2100 Gallagher Ave. he has three sisters and three brothers, Iva, Annie, Rhea, and Jabie, Joe and Gordon. His brother Jabie, now on active service, has been in the Navy for the past 11 years.
Ships served in: HMCS NADEN - Enlisted 28 Oct 1938 as an Ordinary Seaman, RCN HMCS FRASER - Drafted to FRASER 05 Jul 1939 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 19 Sep 1939 HMCS ST LAURENT - Drafted to ST LAURENT 22 Oct 1939 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 07 Nov 1939 HMCS FRASER - Drafted to FRASER 10 Mar 1940 * Survived the sinking of HMCS FRASER on 25 Jun 1940 * Rated Able Seaman, RCN 01 Jul 1940 HMCS MARGAREE - Drafted to MARGAREE 06 Sep 1940 * Commissioning crew
Service file for Robert Smith Source: The Library and Archives of Canada
Second World War Casualty Index
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