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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
SMITH, George Burnett, Electrical Artificer 4c, V5469, RCNVR, MPK: 22 Oct 1940, HMCS MARGAREE - Son of James and Catherine Smith, of Montreal, Province of Quebec.
Electrical Artificer Smith died when his ship, HMCS MARGAREE, was struck by the freighter SS Port Fairy while in convoy and was sunk. 143 of her crew were lost, 86 of them were survivors of HMCS FRASER.
Electrical Artificer George Burnett Smith of Holt Ave., Rosemount, Montréal, was another in the list of the crew's dead. The casualty list struck sorrow into Canadian homes of 37 cities and towns from coast to coast. Every province but New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island was represented in the toll of lives lost on HMCS Margaree. George Burnett Smith joined the RCNVR in 1937 and was called for active service on November 20, 1939. He was educated at Rosemount School and also the Montréal Technical School. Petty Office Smith once before was reported missing when HMCS Fraser foundered. A few days later word was received by his family that he was among the survivors. Shortly before his last trip he visited Scotland to visit his aunt in Glasgow as a letter to this effect had been received by his parents just a week before the Margaree went down. As a boy he entered the Angus shops in 1930 and two years later was a machinist's apprentice.
Ships served in: MONTREAL DIVISION RCNVR - Enlisted 08 Jun 1938 as a Probationary Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, RCNVR HMCS STADACONA - Served in STADACONA for Training 26 Jun 1938 - 09 Jul 1938 HMCS STADACONA - Served in STADACONA for Training 11 Jun 1939 - 24 Jun 1939 * Commenced Active Service 26 Nov 1939 as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, RCNVR HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 26 Nov 1939 * Transferred. Rated Acting Electrical Artificer 4th Class, RCNVR 24 Jan 1940 HMCS FRASER - Drafted to FRASER 22 Mar 1940 * Survived the sinking of HMCS FRASER on 25 Jun 1940 HMCS MARGAREE - Drafted to MARGAREE 06 Sep 1940 * Commissioning crew
Service file for George Smith Source: The Library and Archives of Canada
Second World War Casualty Index
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