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It is with a sad heart I must inform you that Canada's last Canadian recipient passed away on August 3rd, 2005.

Ernest Alvia Smith better known as SGT. "Smokey" Smith enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada.

He was tagged "Smokey" because of his athletic running abilities during his school years.

He was a soldiers, soldier.  He was promoted to corporal 9 times.

In 1944 at the Battle of Savio River during the Italian Campaign Smokey won the Victoria Cross.

There will be two Lying-In-State Ceremonies.
To-day August 9th, 2005
Center Block Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Canada
and
Friday August 12th
Seaforth Armoury
Vancouver, Canada

Sgt. Smith was a true Canadian hero and his passing is particularly poignant as we houour all those who went before us during this year of the Veteran.

......Doug

Truly a great hero.

On a perverse note: his "Lying In State" is only his ashes...he has already been cremated.

I assume the Victoria Cross is a high achievement?

Enlighten me, please.

I assume the Victoria Cross is a high achievement?

Enlighten me, please.

The VC is the British Empire's highest decoration for valour - similar to the US Congressional Medal of Honor.

Each medal is (still) made from the metal melted from the cannons captured from Sevastopol during the Crimean war (am writing this from memory so the details might not be 100% accurate.

Like the US Congressional Medal of Honor, unfortunately, many of the awards are made posthumously, so a living recipient is a national treasure.


For more information on "Smokey's" action that earned him the VC:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Alvia_Smith