Canadian Virtual War Memorial
John Smith
In memory of:
Second Mate John Smith
February 23, 1942
North Atlantic
Military Service
23
Merchant Navy
Canadian Merchant Navy
S.S. Empire Hail (Greenock, Scotland) (166995)
Additional Information
May 5, 1918
North Shields, England
Son of Cecil David Smith and Grace Williams of Montreal, Quebec. During the First World War, Cecil served as a gunner with the Royal Artillery (Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery), regimental number 20445. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
At the end of February 1942, the Empire Hail sailed from Leith, Scotland, to Baltimore, Pennsylvania, USA, with convoy ON-66. On 24 February, at 0:15 am, a torpedo launched from U-94 missed the target. The submarine surfaced and opened fire with its deck gun. Eleven of the 22 shells hit the submarine. The Empire Hail refused to sink. At 2:20 am, another torpedo hit her stern and she sank in position 44°48'N/40°21'W. Aboard lifeboats, the captain, the 41 crew members and the seven gunners were never seen again.
Commemorated on Page 230 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
HALIFAX MEMORIAL
Nova Scotia, Canada
Panel 20.
The HALIFAX MEMORIAL in Nova Scotia's capital, erected in Point Pleasant Park, is one of the few tangible reminders of the men who died at sea. Twenty-four ships were lost by the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War and nearly 2,000 members of the RCN lost their lives. This Memorial was erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and was unveiled in November 1967 with naval ceremony by H.P. MacKeen, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, in the presence of R. Teillet, then Minister of Veterans Affairs. The monument is a great granite Cross of Sacrifice over 12 metres high, clearly visible to all ships approaching Halifax. The cross is mounted on a large podium bearing 23 bronze panels upon which are inscribed the names of over 3,000 Canadian men and women who were buried at sea. The dedicatory inscription, in French and English, reads as follows:
1918-1945
IN THE HONOUR OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE NAVY
ARMY AND MERCHANT NAVY
OF CANADA
WHOSE NAMES
ARE INSCRIBED HERE
THEIR GRAVES ARE UNKNOWN
BUT THEIR MEMORY
SHALL ENDURE.
On June 19, 2003, the Government of Canada designated September 3rd of each year as a day to acknowledge the contribution of Merchant Navy Veterans.
Digital Collection
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Details
Photo of John Smith – John Smith Born 5 May 1918 North Shields, Northumberland, England Son Of Cecil David Smith and Grace Smith nee Williams
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