Smith, Larry Douglas

P.O. Larry Douglas Smith, E.R.A., 24, lost his life on October 4, 1944, after the Frigate Chebogue had been torpedoed by an enemy submarine and the story that surrounds the action is one of heroism to inspire all other brave men who follow the sea. For hours the Chebogue had trailed the submarine, when suddenly it dived and let loose its deadly explosives. P.O. Smith was blown into the water, terribly wounded. A/B K. R. Holloway, on a passing ship in the convoy, and who by coincidence was a Brantfordite, saw him and went to his rescue. But despite the courage of A/B Holloway, who was Mentioned in Dispatches for his bravery, P.O. Smith succumbed eight hours later. With full naval honors he was lowered to rest in the sea bringing to a close an R.C.N.V.R. career that had begun early in the spring of 1943. Born at St. George, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Smith, who now reside at 125 Sydenham St., P.O. Smith moved to Brantford with his family when he was small and attended primary school here and also the Collegiate

Institute and Vocational School. He was a member of the Rawdon Street Mission. P.O. Smith had a different and rather unusual hobby, that of cooking. He came by the knowledge of it through his mother who for long years was a cook at the Bodega Tavern. On Christmas night, after Mrs. Smith had finished her working day, she would come home to find her own dinner prepared by her son. It was not an idle hobby because, during the period when factory work was not plentiful, the able cook found employment at some of the local hotels. His hobby was his "umbrella" for a rainy day. Besides his mother, he is survived by his widow and son, Larry Alfred.

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