Smith Ancestry - 2nd Generation: The Story of Ernest Milburn Smith (1894-1948) and Bridget “Bessie” Cannon (1891-1982) - Part 1

The 1^st Generation of our Smith Ancestry in Canada is about Russell Cannon Smith (1920-1995) and Margaret Cecilia Mumford (1922-1998). In the 2^nd Generation of the family history, the focus is on Ernest Milburn Smith (1894-1948) and Bridget “Bessie” Cannon (1891-1982). This is their story (updated August 20, 2017)!

About Ernest Milburn Smith (1894-1948)

Ernest Milburn Smith was born on May 5, 1894 in Tantallon, Halifax County, Nova Scotia. He was the fifth of eight children (six boys and two girls) born to John Caleb Smith (1852-1940) and Deborah Emmeline Boutilier (1859-1940). At that time, his father was 42 years old and his mother was 34 years old.

Ernest Milburn Smith 1916

When he was 21 years old, Ernest Milburn Smith enlisted for service in World War 1. He joined the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on December 21, 1915. According to the records, all five of his brothers also enlisted (see Smith Ancestry – Remembering the Battle of Vimy Ridge).

While fighting in France, Ernest was wounded in the shoulder and sent to a hospital in Scotland to recover. During his stay at the hospital, Ernest met Bridget “Bessie” Cannon. When the war ended, Ernest and Bessie were married on January 15, 1919 in Govan Parish, Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Scotland. Ernest was 24 and Bessie was 27.

On August 13, 1919, they boarded the S.S. Baltic in Liverpool, England and sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to start a new life. Upon arrival in Canada on August 21, 1919, Ernest was discharged from the army. His discharge paper (presented below) indicates that, at 25 years old, he was 5 feet, 7 1/2 inches tall with brown eyes, brown hair and a "fresh" complexion.

Ernest Smith - Army Discharge Certificate 1919

The 1921 Canada Census indicates that Russell Cannon Smith (our direct line ancestor) was their first child. His Certificate of Birth states that Russell was born in Halifax on March 18, 1920 and that his father was a shoe repairer by trade. As the family tree shows, Ernest and Bessie had three more children over the eight years from 1920 to 1928 – Eunice (Una), Doris and Jean.

Ernest Smith and Bessie Cannon Family Tree

Ernest and Bessie were married for 29 years when he passed away at the age of 54 years. The Nova Scotia Certificate of Registration of Death (No. 005851) notes that Ernest made his living as a cobbler (shoemaker). It also records that he stayed at Camp Hill Hospital for several months before he died on November 9, 1948. His death was due to heart failure caused by arteriosclerosis and complications from diabetes. Ernest was buried at the Halifax Fort Massey Cemetery on November 12, 1948.

Read more about Bridget “Bessie” Cannon in Part 2 of this blog posting.

Smith Ancestry – Remembering the Battle of Vimy Ridge

When Great Britain declared war on Germany in August 1914, its Dominion of Canada automatically entered the fight, inspiring thousands to enlist. Eventually 619,000 Canadian troops joined British and French forces in Europe and quickly earned a reputation for toughness. In April 1915, the Second Battle of Ypres, a massive chlorine gas attack broke the line, but Canadian troops held the Germans until help arrived. Two years into the war at the Battle of the Somme, the 1st Newfoundland Regiment gave their all: after the first day, only 68 of some 800 soldiers survived.

Succeeding where British and French soldiers had failed, the Canadian Corps also captured the strategic point of Vimy Ridge (see the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge - Veterans Affairs Canada). Canadian women pitched in too, and more than 3,000 nurses volunteered. The courage of the Canadian soldiers did not go unnoticed, and ultimately 70 received the Victoria Cross for “most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy.”

The Smith Ancestry – England to United States to Canada (second stage) tells the story of how John Caleb Smith (1852-1940) married his second wife Emmeline Deborah Boutilier (1859-1940) in 1881. As their family tree shows, they had 8 children (6 boys and 2 girls). The records indicate that all 6 boys enlisted and served in World War 1 (see Footage - Canada at War).

John Caleb Smith and Emmeline Deborah Boutilier Family Tree

Ernest Milburn Smith, c.1916

Ernest Milburn Smith (our direct line ancestor) enlisted for service in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on December 21, 1915. His three older brothers followed. Horace Mazlin enlisted on March 25, 1916 and Norman Lindsay joined the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on April 26, 1916. The WW1 US Draft Registration Card states that Isaac Caleb enlisted on September 12, 1918. 

Malcolm (Mack) Russell Smith, c.1916

Ernest’s younger brother, Malcolm Russell Smith (born in 1896) was the first of the Smith boys to enlist in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on November 29, 1915. Malcolm (known as Mack) was a member of the 10^th Machine Gun Company (Regimental Number 488787).

On August 9, 1917, Mack sent a hopeful letter to his older sister Gladys Bernice about the situation on the front lines in the trenches. Mack's letter states that he had recently seen his younger brother Weldon and that he was well (which proves that Weldon had also enlisted). His letter also says that Ernest (the lucky one) was recovering in a military hospital and made blighty, which means he would probably be sent back to England. He closes by sending his "love to all the children."

Malcolm Smith WW1 letter 1917 (click to enlarge)

On August 21, 1917, less than two weeks after writing that letter, Mack was killed in action in the battle at Vimy Ridge. At only 21 years old, he was buried at Villers Station Cemetery, France. Several online memorials honour his sacrifice, including: Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Canada at War and First World War - Books Of Remembrance.

Malcolm Russell Smith Headstone - 1917

LEST WE FORGET!