Edward Hayes Smith was born in Port Hood, the sixth son of Samuel and Mary Smith. He went to school in Port Hood and worked with his father and at the Mines. He married Agnes King (1882 - 1973) who was with the Salvation Army in Port Hood. They moved to Vancouver where he later gave his occupation as “lumberman”.

Ed joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Vancouver. He arrived in England on August 26th, 1916, and was posted to 2nd Heavy Battery, Canadian Garrison Artillery, in the field on April 1st, 1917. He was appointed Acting Corporal on September 5th, 1918. And was awarded the Military Medal sometime in 1918.

He was killed in action in France, three days after his brother Alexander. His death was described by a comrade in a letter to Ed’s father, “He was on duty at the time in charge of his gun crew at the guns when an enemy battery started to shell our position and it was as the boys were running for cover that a shell burst close to Eddie, which killed him instantly.” He was buried in a cemetery close to the village of La Targette.

Edward’s regimental number was 339000.

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