Military service
Burial/memorial information
Charles enlisted on January 6th, 1916 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan with the 188th Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, regimental number 887388. He served in France with the 4th Entrenching Battalion, then with the 46th Battalion, shot and wounded on May 5th, 1917 at the Battle of Vimy, France. He was killed in action on August 21st, 1917 in France and was reported missing.
Half-brother to Gunner Jim Hugh, serial number L-10080, 2nd Light Anti Aircraft Battery and Chief Airman D. Hugh of the Royal Canadian Air Force. They survived the war. Served in Manitoba, Jamaica with Force Y and Hong Kong with Force C. He had 821 days of service, including 53 overseas.
1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Defence Medal, Hong Kong Bar.
Digital gallery of Lance Corporal Charles Smith
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Memorial
Lance Corporal CHARLES SMITH is one of 30 members of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps who are commemorated on this panel of the Sai Wan Memorial. He was one of 290 Canadian soldiers killed during the defense of Hong Kong, from December 8th to December 25th, 1941. -
Newspaper Clipping
Lance Corporal CHARLES SMITH (identified in this list as a Private) was reported to have been Killed in Action the Canadian Army¿s 242nd overseas casualty list of the war published in the Globe and Mail on January 8, 1943. -
Dedicatory Inscription of the Sai Wan Memorial
Dedicatory inscription of the SAI WAN MEMORIAL. This memorial bears the names of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 228 Canadians. -
Canada and the Defence of Hong Kong
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada. -
Canadian Casuatlies in the Defence of Hong Kong
Source: Veterans Affairs Canada. -
Unknown Marker
The Sai Wan Memorial is located at the entrance of Sai Wan Cemetery. 1,505 Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War are buried or commemorated at this cemetery, of which 444 of the burials are the remains of unidentified soldiers, including those of 107 Canadian soldiers, most of whom were killed or died of wounds during the defense of Hong Kong, which took place from December 8th to December 25th, 1941. This is one such grave marker. There is a possibility that the remains of Lance Corporal CHARLES SMITH lie beneath this grave marker. The unidentified soldiers are commemorated at the Sai Wan Memorial. -
Photo of Charles Smith
In memory of those who served in Hong Kong during World War II and did not come home. Submitted with permission on behalf of the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association by Operation: Picture Me. -
Newspaper clipping
From the Regina Leader Post January 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Lance Corporal Charles Smith
Digital gallery of
Lance Corporal Charles Smith
Digital gallery of
Lance Corporal Charles Smith
Digital gallery of
Lance Corporal Charles Smith
Digital gallery of
Lance Corporal Charles Smith
Digital gallery of
Lance Corporal Charles Smith
Digital gallery of
Lance Corporal Charles Smith
Digital gallery of
Lance Corporal Charles Smith
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 44 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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