Ernest Linwood Smith married December 15th, 1904 in Port Hood where he was employed as a police man, and later foreman of the coal shipping pier. They resided on Main Street near the Wharf Road. All three of their children were born in Port Hood. In 1910, he moved to Barnett, BC where he was employed in the lumber industry in Port Alberni and then to Vancouver where he was employed as superintendent of a lumber company. He took an active part in all community affairs and served as an elder of the United Church of Canada. In early life, both he and his wife were members of the Salvation Army church of Port Hood.

He sailed from Halifax on the SS Jisticis on June 23rd, 1917 and landed at Liverpool on July 5. He landed in France on September 5th, 1917 and served in several localities but particularly in the Vosges Mountains area. The Vosges Mountains are in Alsace-Lorraine and are heavily wooded. One of the purposes of the Forestry Units was to cut down trees and shape timbers to be used in the construction of trenches. While in France in September, 1918 he was granted leave when his two brothers were killed.

He left France in January, 1919 and was discharged in Halifax. Before proceeding to Vancouver where his family lived, he visited his parents in Port Hood to bring them news and consolation regarding his two brothers who had been killed three days apart in France in September, 1918.

Ernest’s regimental number was 1013269.

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