ARTICLES

LAST MAN STANDING:
The Life of Smokey Smith VC, 1914–2005
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION:
LOCKHART, Thomas Glen. Victoria: Friesen Press, 2013, hardcover,
105 pages, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-46-020509-9
Reviewed by Major Andrew B. Godefroy, CD, PhD, jrcsp, member of the
Concepts Team at the CALWC.
Since its creation by Queen Victoria in January 1856
to honour acts of valour in the face of the enemy
during the Crimean War, the Victoria Cross has been
awarded 1,357 times to 1,354 individual recipients. Of
these awards, 96 have been presented to Canadians
or people closely associated with Canada, 16 of them
during the Second World War. In his recent book,
Last Man Standing: The Life of Smokey Smith VC,
1914–2005, Thomas Glen Lockhart introduces us to
one of these remarkable gentlemen.
Earnest Alvia “Smokey” Smith
was born in New Westminster,
British Columbia, in the
summer of 1914. In March 1940,
he left his contracting job and
walked into the recruiting station
at the old Hotel Vancouver
to enlist in the Canadian Army.
He completed his basic training
at Oakridge Depot over the
summer and left for overseas
duty in September as a private in
the Seaforth Highlanders of
Canada. After extensive training
in England, the 1st Canadian
Division embarked with other
formations to take part in the
Allied invasion of Sicily. Smokey’s regiment, as part of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade,
landed at Pachino Beach in July 1943. After weeks of fierce fighting on the island, the Allies
emerged victorious. It was not long, however, before the next phase of the assault on Fortress
Europe began and Smokey joined the invasion of the Italian mainland in September.
Smokey Smith earned his VC during fighting at the Savio River in October 1944. The Seaforth
Highlanders had led the Canadian attack across the river to form a bridgehead, and as a
member of an anti-tank team, Smith singlehandedly blunted a German counter-attack against
the foothold with PIAT and small-arms fire. His determination deterred the enemy long
Source: Library and Archives Canada
138 THE CANADIAN ARMY JOURNAL VOLUME 16.2 2016