Conley A. Smith - B70132

Conely A. Smith enlisted at 18 in the Army with B Squadron, 3rd Armoured Regiment after its conversion from the Governor Generals Horse Guard to an armoured regiment in 1941. He completed training in England in 1942 before being stationed in Africa, Italy, France, and Germany where he had the responsibility of driving a Sherman M4A5 tank. Battle Honours received while Conley was in service were: LIRI VALLEY; Melfa Crossing; GOTHIC LINE; LAMONE CROSSING; Misano Ridge; Fosso Munio; ITALY, 1944-1945; Ijsselmeer; NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1945. Conley received the 1939-1945 Star, the Italy Star, The France and Germany Star, The Campaign Medal, The Voluntary Service Medal and the Defence Medal.

From family:

Nearing the end of the war, my grandfather was on foot patrol along a stone wall in a little town. Both Allied forces and German forces knew the war was days from being over. While on patrol a group of German Soldiers came into view roughly 100 yards away from my grandfathers position. They saw the Germans and the Germans saw them. My grandfather ordered his men to not engage. They marched within 20 yards of each other. They knew if they made eye contact with each other they would have to open fire. The Germans marched past looking the same.

All 15-20 men on the street that day went home to their families 3 days later when the war was declared over!

We Will Remember Them