About Russell Cannon Smith (1920-1995)

Russell Cannon Smith was born in Halifax on March 18, 1920. He was the first child of Ernest Milburn Smith (1894-1948) and Bridget Bessie Cannon (1891-1982) who were married on January 15, 1919 in Glasgow, Scotland. Ernest was 24 and Bessie was 27. Their marriage lasted 29 years. They had three more children, all girls - Eunice (Una), Doris and Jean.

Ernest enlisted for service in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force (1915-1919) and fought in the trenches in World War 1. Perhaps this set an example for young Russell because,  as soon as he was old enough to enlist, he joined the Royal Canadian Army. He earned the nickname “Boom Boom” Smith when he became an Artillery Instructor and rose through the ranks. Due to a disability in both feet, he did not serve in World War 2.

Russell Cannon Smith age 19, circa 1939

Russell Cannon Smith age 24, circa 1944

Promotions generally meant moving to new army bases, so the family moved to Victoria, British Columbia, then back to Halifax, on to Ottawa, Ontario and then Oakville, Ontario where he stayed. Russell did not enjoy the politics of senior level rank, so he settled for the position of  Staff Sergeant. For his long and distinguished service, he received the Canadian Forces Decoration Medal in 1956.

Canadian Forces Decoration Medal

 

Russell married Margaret Cecilia Mumford (1922-1998) during a major snowstorm on December 28, 1944 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Russell was 24 and Margaret was 22. Their marriage lasted 50 years. They had five children: one boy (the oldest child) and four girls (one died in 1961 when she was only nine years old).

Russell retired from the army in October 1965 and began receiving his service pension and a disability pension for hearing impairment. After a somewhat lengthy period of adjustment, he settled into civilian life by taking a job as shipper and receiver for a local company. He continued to indulge in his passion for marksmanship, taking part in ongoing rifle competitions. At one point, he qualified for the finals and went to a world competition in South Africa. He was an expert at fine-tuning rifles and even made his own bullets to improve the accuracy of his shooting. For a while, he taught marksmanship at a local private boys academy.

Russell Cannon Smith in retirement 1980s

 Russell had other passions, like eating steak and potatoes, smoking cigarettes and drinking beer. He was a long-time member of the Royal Canadian Legion. After all the children had moved away, he spent many hours at the Legion with his wife enjoying the company of his army associates. Russell Cannon Smith  died on August 10, 1995, aged 75, in Oakville, Ontario and is buried next to his wife at Trafalgar Lawn Cemetery.