Flight Lieutenant H. Bruce Smith, RCAF

Flight Lieutenant H. Bruce Smith (my uncle) was a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot who was attached to Coastal Command of the Royal Air Force when he was deployed overseas during World War ll.

(Above) Flight Lieutenant H. Bruce Smith, RCAF

(Above) The Royal Air Force Ensign

(Above) The Royal Canadian Air Force Ensign (1940-1965 version) 

(Below) This short personal history outlines some highlights of Bruce Smith's service with the RCAF and the RAF 

 

My uncle told me once that after a successful mission his CO told him that he was going to be promoted, nominated for a medal, and posted to Bermuda.  As the narrative states, shortly after this he was involved in the plane crash and although being vindicated after the court marshal, three things did not happen...no promotion, no medal, and no posting to the Bahamas.

Uncle Bruce was one of two Canadian pilots attached to 502 Squadron.  The other Canadian was a grain farmer from Saskatchewan and he too survived the war.  Many other commonwealth countries provided pilots to 502 squadron.  However, all of the other countries that supplied pilots to the squadron lost at least one officer in action.

Uncle Bruce told me that he attributed his survival to the training and mentoring provided by the RAF pilots that he flew with after he arrived in Great Britain.  

H. Bruce Smith retired from piloting aircraft at the end of World War 2.

(Above) A map showing the Bay of Biscay, where Bruce Smith flew most of his operational missions and where his cousin Stephen Lea was lost

   

 

The service [Coastal Command] saw action from the first day of hostilities until the last day of the Second World War. It flew over one million flying hours, 240,000 operations and destroyed 212 U-boats. Coastal Command's casualties amounted to 2,060 aircraft to all causes and some 5,866 personnel killed in action. During 1940–1945 Coastal Command sank 366 German transport vessels and damaged 134. The total tonnage sunk was 512,330 tons and another 513,454 tons damaged. A total of 10,663 persons were rescued by the Command, including 5,721 Allied crews, 277 enemy personnel, and 4,665 non-aircrews.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Coastal_Command_during_World_War_II 

Aircraft Flown by Bruce Smith in WW2

 

 (Above) The Handley Page Halifax

 

(Above) The Armstrong Whitworth Whitley

 

(Above) The Avro Anson

 

(Above) The North American Aviation Harvard

 

(Above) The Cessna Crane

(Above) The de Havilland Tiger Moth

Other Maps and Photographs

   

(Above) At the outbreak of WWII in 1939 there was one airfield on Lough Neagh,      located on the east shore at Aldergrove, which is now the site of Belfast International Airport.  This is where the Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) where Bruce Smith was stationed an an instructor.

 #6 Elementary Flying Training School

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

(Above) The aerial view of the base

Interesting people that Bruce Smith met that were mentioned in his letter

 

(Above) Lieutenant General Sir Henry Cholmondeley Jackson, KCB, CMG, DSO (1879-1972). He commanded the 50th (Northumbrian) Division on the Western Front in WW1. 

(Above) Dr. Sir Harry George Champion, CIE, (1891-1979) was a Professor of Forestry at Oxford University.  Champion published an initial classification of the forest types of India and Burma in 1936. This was revised in 1968 by S K. Seth and this is referred to as the Champion-Seth classification.

(Above) The Right Honourable the Lord [Claud] Schuster [1st Baron Schuster], GCB, CVO, KC (1869–1956). He was a British barrister and civil servant noted for his long tenure as Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Office.

R/85565 Flight Sergeant Stephen Alfred William Lea, RCAF

 

(Below) Excerpts from the book "Trinity College School-Old Boys at War" 

Published by the Old Boy's Association

Trinity College School, Port Hope, Ontario.  June, 1948 

Trinity College School's contribution to the Second World War

• Those who enlisted 855 (Including twenty former Masters)

• In the Army 453
• In the Navy 188
• In the Air Force 214

• Those who were killed 60

•  Awards won for gallantry or distinguished service 184

• Those who had served in the First World War 60

(Above) The Memorial Cross at Trinity College School


Stephen Lea was the cousin of my mother, Dorothy Elizabeth (Smith) Buglass, and my uncle, Flight Lieutenant H. Bruce Smith

 

Burial Information

Cemetery:  RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

 Surrey, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:  Panel 105

 

During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave. Of these, 20,450 are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial, which is situated at Englefield Green, near Egham, 32 kilometres by road west of London. The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:
IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott." 

 

Disbanded in 1919, No. 51 [Squadron] was re-formed in 1937 as a night-bomber squadron and when war broke out in September 1939, it was flying Whitleys with the Yorkshire-based No. 4 Group.  From May to October 1942, No. 51 Squadron was attached to Coastal Command and during this period flew anti-submarine patrols from a station in Devon. 

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/bombercommandno51squadron.cfm 

(Above) Stephen Lea flew as a Sergeant Pilot with 51 Sqn RAF while the squadron was in Bomber Command

 (Above) Stephen Lea was reported missing in action while 51 Sqn RAF while the squadron was in Coastal Command.

 (Below) An extract from the Honour Roll of 21 Sqn.
  

 

 

 

 

2768274 Sergeant Heber Rintoul Smith, 259th Bn, Canadian Rifles / Canadian Army Pay Corps

My maternal grandfather, Heber Rintoul Smith of Toronto, Ontario was conscripted in 1918 at the age of 35.  He was a member of the 259th Bn, Canadian Rifles, with the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force (CSEF).  H.R. Smith was the father of H. Bruce Smith and Dorothy Elizabeth (Smith) Buglass.

A short summary of the activities of the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force

 

As part of an Allied intervention force, Canada sent several contingents of troops to Russia in 1918 to support the government’s “White” forces against the revolutionary “Reds.”

Revolution and Civil War in Russia

By the end of 1917, Russian Tsar Nicholas II had been deposed by Bolshevik revolutionaries who then made a separate peace with Germany, plunging Russia into a bloody civil war. The “Reds,” led by Vladimir Lenin, fought to hold power against “White” forces representing the recently deposed Romanov dynasty and other conservative and nationalist forces.

Canadians against Bolshevism

In 1918, Tsarist Russia’s former allies sent troops into northern Russia, around Murmansk and Archangel to support the “Whites,” to guard supplies previously given on credit to the Tsarist government, and to assist in re-opening an eastern front against the Central Powers. The Canadian government agreed to send another 4,000 troops to assist British and other anti-Bolshevik troops in Siberia. Canada, like most Western countries, viewed Bolshevism as a long-term threat to their own governments but, in the short term, merely wanted Russia back in the war against Germany and Austria.

Short and Unsuccessful Involvement

Allied involvement in Siberia was short-lived and, ultimately, unsuccessful. In most areas, more numerous and highly motivated “Red” forces gradually gained the upper hand over the disorganized, badly led “Whites,” while war weary Western governments lost interest in the fighting and brought home their troops. The Siberian Expeditionary Force had returned to Canada by June 1919, having suffered 24 casualties.

http://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/battles-and-fighting/land-battles/siberian-expeditionary-force/

(Above) The Attestation Papers of H.R. Smith
This document was downloaded from the National Archives of Canada

The military career of Sergeant H.R. Smith

H.R. Smith was not in the infantry for very long.  During a platoon commander's interview his background in business finance was discovered.  As a result, he was transferred to the Canadian Army Pay Corps and promoted to the rank of Sergeant based on his civilian experience with bookkeeping in the family insurance business (Smith & Ridout Insurance, Toronto, ON).  He was still sent to Siberia.

My grandfather told me that they had heard that Siberia was like the wild west, and that personal safety was always a concern.  He said that someone could have you killed by one of the locals for the equivalent of 5 cents.  Prior to his leaving for Siberia, he purchased a Smith & Wesson .455 calibre New Century revolver from Eaton's department store.  It had a 6 ½ inch barrel and a lanyard swivel.  This was the same revolver that was issued to the RCMP in western Canada. (S & W had a .45 calibre model of the revolver that was used in the U.S.) Granddad Smith always wore the revolver openly, and he was never bothered by the locals.  The weapon has never been fired, and I still have it today.

During his time in Siberia he became acquainted with a major (one of the company commanders) who had a gambling problem.  Granddad gave him regular pay advances and as a result, the major reciprocated by having his car and driver at Granddad's disposal.  H.R. Smith would use the vehicle to get to shower area.  One of the advantages of working in the C.A.P.C. was that he was not deployed to the filed on operations.  As a result, he had regular showers and changes of long underwear!  The major's car was recognized by most soldiers and granddad used to get saluted while sitting in the back seat.  Always being respectful, he returned the salutes.

H.R. Smith enlisted in the army on September 30, 1918, and World War One ended on November 11, 1918.  H.R. Smith was demobilized on June 12, 1919.  In less that 9 months, he joined the army, was promoted from private to sergeant overnight, went to Siberia, returned to Canada, and was demobilized.  He had an interesting 256 day military career.

(Above) The Cap Badge of the 259th Bn.

An Upper Canada College "Old Boy"

H.R. Smith was a graduate of Upper Canada College.  In 1923, The War Book of Upper Canada College by A.H. Young was published.  This book chronicled the service of all of the UCC "Old Boys" that served In World War 1.

(Above) Page 274 of the War Book.  H.R. Smith is the the bottom row, wearing a parka.

(Above) Page 273 of the War Book.  A short biography of H.R. Smith is published in the top right hand column.

(Above) The Discharge Certificate of H.R. Smith (Front).

This document was printed on cloth paper.

(Above) The Discharge Certificate of H.R. Smith (Reverse)

On upper right corner of the reverse side of the discharge certificate in red ink it states "War Service Badge, Class A, No. 142604 Issued".

(Above) The War Service Badge of H.R. Smith

The obverse of the (lapel) badge is inscribed with the words "FOR SERVICE AT THE FRONT  CEF".  The reverse of the badge is inscribed with the words "PENALTY FOR MISUSE 500 DOLLARS OR SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT".  Also inscribed is the number 142604.

(Above) The service medals awarded to Sgt. H.R. Smith.

(Above) World War One medals had the service number, rank, initials, surname and campaign of the recipient engraved on the base of the medal.

(Above) Most Canadian service personnel that were overseas were with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.  H.R. Smith served with the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force, hence his medals are engraved with the letters C.S.E.F.

Lieutenant Colonel K.G. Buglass, USAF

LCol Kenneth G. Buglass, United States Air Force, is the only Buglass buried at the Arlington National Cemetary in Arlington, Virginia, USA.  LCol Buglass was from Mauston, Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Buglass' are related to our branch of the Buglass family.

(Above) U.S. Army Air Corps Pilot's Wings

 (Above) 310 Bombardment Group Insignia
 


Saturday 03 July 1943

 

Sunday 04 July 1943

 

 

Monday 05 July 1943

Tuesday 06 July 1943

Wednesday 07 July 1943

Sunday 11 July 1943 (Check)

 

Tuesday 13 July 1943

Friday 16 July 1943

Saturday 17 July 1943

Monday 19 July 1943

 Tuesday 23 July 1943

(Below) Kenneth Buglass returns home in November 1944.  I cannot identify him, but since he is is an Army Air Corps officer, he could be (from L to R) either Number 1, 5, 7, or 9.

(Above) The short biography that accompanies the photograph.

(Below) Excerpt from the Congressional Record Volume 107, Page 128, 22 May 1961 authorizing the promotion from major to lieutenant colonel of Regular United States Air Force personnel. 

(Below) Records indicating the retirement of Lieutenant Colonel K.E. Buglass