Profile image
Military service
Age:
23
Rank:
Captain
Force:
Army
Unit/Regiment:
Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment)
Death:
June 13, 1916
Burial/memorial information
Grave reference:
Panel 18 - 24 - 26 - 30
Additional information
Son of William Henry and Elizabeth Sara Van der Smissen, of Toronto, Ontario.
Digital gallery of Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen
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Memorial Stained Glass
Royal Military College of Canada memorial window. -
Honour Roll
Royal Military College honour roll -
Memorial Arch
Royal Military College -
Newspaper Clipping
Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Cover page of biography
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Photo of William Henry Victor Vander Smissen
Captain William Vander Smissen graduated from Royal Military College in 1914 and accepted a commission as a Lieutenant in The Queen's Own Rifles. At Valcartier he was placed in No. 2 Company. He functioned as a platoon commander in A Company of the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment)and fought at St. Julien (Second Ypres). Shortly thereafter, he was put in charge of the 3rd Battalion's Machine Gun platoon and then promoted to Captain. He was given command of D company and led them at Givenchy and Festubert. From January to March 1916, he held a staff position with the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade. He rejoined the 3rd and was given command of C company. Victor Van Der Smissen led his men in the capture of Mt Sorrel on 13 June 1916. He was killed by artillery fire at the end of the battle in a captured German dugout. -
Inscription on Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial
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Biography
Stone Frigate 1914 Royal Military College of Canada 924 Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen (RMC 1914) was the son of William Henry and Elizabeth Sara Van der Smissen, of Toronto, Ontario. He served with the Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). He was killed at Mount Sorrel in Flanders 13 Jun 1916. His name is listed on the Menin Gate Memorial in Belgium. His biography, At Duty's Call Captain William Henry Victor Van der Smissen Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment) Canadian Expeditionary Force. -
War Memorial
Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades. 924 Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen was the son of William Henry and Elizabeth Sara Van der Smissen, of Toronto, Ontario. He served with the Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). He died 13 Jun 1916. His name is listed on the Menin Gate Memorial in Belgium. -
Memorial Stained Glass
Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades. 924 Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen (RMC 1914) was the son of William Henry and Elizabeth Sara Van der Smissen, of Toronto, Ontario. He served with the Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). He died 13 Jun 1916. His name is listed on the Menin Gate Memorial in Belgium. -
Memorial Doll
Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades. 924 Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen (RMC 1914) was the son of William Henry and Elizabeth Sara Van der Smissen, of Toronto, Ontario. He served with the Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). He died 13 Jun 1916. His name is listed on the Menin Gate Memorial in Belgium. -
Photo of William Henry Victor Vander Smissen
Stone Frigate 1914 Royal Military College of Canada 924 Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen (RMC 1914) was the son of William Henry and Elizabeth Sara Van der Smissen, of Toronto, Ontario. He served with the Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). He was killed at Mount Sorrel in Flanders 13 Jun 1916. His name is listed on the Menin Gate Memorial in Belgium. His biography, At Duty's Call Captain William Henry Victor Van der Smissen Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment) Canadian Expeditionary Force. -
Menin Gate Memorial
924 Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen (RMC 1914) was the son of William Henry and Elizabeth Sara Van der Smissen, of Toronto, Ontario. He served with the Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). He was killed at Mount Sorrel in Flanders 13 Jun 1916. His name is listed on the Menin Gate Memorial in Belgium. His biography, At Duty's Call Captain William Henry Victor Van der Smissen Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment) Canadian Expeditionary Force. -
Newspaper Clipping
Source: The Globe Toronto Friday October 15 1915 -
Memorial
Captain William Vander Smissen graduated from Royal Military College in 1914. He is listed on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada with other ex-cadets who died in service during the Great War 1914-1919. The Victor van der Smissen-Ridout Memorial Award is awarded annually, in memory of William Henry Victor van der Smissen (RMC 1914) and 2415 W.L. Ridout (RMC 1934) to the graduating ROTP/RETP cadet deemed to stand highest morally, intellectually, and physically at the Royal Military College of Canada (based on a vote by the cadets). -
Memorial Arch
Memorial arch, Royal Military College, Kingston -
Memorial
Memorial stair, Royal Military College, Kingston -
Memorial Stained Glass
Memorial window, Royal Military College, Kingston -
Memorial
Photo from the National Memorial Album of Canadian Heroes c.1919. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me. -
Memorial
Inscription on the Menin Gate … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Telegram June 1916. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Telegram June 1916. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Star Weekly c.1916. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen
Digital gallery of
Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen
Digital gallery of
Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen
Digital gallery of
Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen
Digital gallery of
Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen
Digital gallery of
Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen
Digital gallery of
Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen
Digital gallery of
Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen
Digital gallery of
Captain William Henry Victor Vander Smissen
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 176 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
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