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Smith, Douglas “Doug”, Portage la Prairie, Class of ’18 (B.S.A.). Military Service, Lieutenant, Reg. No. 910023, Manitoba Co., 196th Overseas Regiment, Attestation Papers. Diary Reference: “Doug Smith and [R. M.] Hopper are out here somewhere as officers,” 5:12 June ’17.
Additional Biographical Information:
Lt. Douglas Smith was a son of a Presbyterian minister named Rev. George Watt Smith of Portage la Prairie. At 5 feet 4½ inches and 132 lbs, the red-haired Smith stood out in contrast to classmate Reg. Hall, who was a little over six feet tall and weighed 169 lbs. Both students at the University of Manitoba, they enlisted on the same day in February 1916 with the Manitoba Company of the 196th Overseas Battalion.
1917
Undergraduate, D. Smith, 910023, 196th Univ. Bn.
University of Manitoba, Archives and Special Collections, Managra, v. XI, No. 1 (Nov. 1917), 9.
1919
Lieut. Douglas Smith. One of our most promising young students in the early days of the war was Douglas Smith of the ’18 class. It is now our sad duty to pay a small tribute to his memory. Enlisting with the 196th University Battalion, in February, 1916, he passed the following summer in Camp Hughes, sailed in October to England, where he worked for and received his commission. He arrived in France about July 1, 1917, and was on active service with the 44th Battalion, until his early death a year later cut off a useful career.
A merry student and a popular and efficient officer, fearless and brimming with patriotism, he is mourned by a wide circle of friends who extend their heartfelt sympathies to his parents and family.
University of Manitoba, Archives and Special Collections, Managra, v. XII, No. 1 (Jan. 1919),19.
1923
Smith, Douglas: Agric. ’18; Enlisted July 1917; Pte. 196th Bn.; Transferred to 13th Res.; Lieut.; Transferred to 43rd Cameron Highlanders; Service in France; Killed in Action 28-8-18.
University of Manitoba, Roll of Honour 1914-1918 (Winnipeg: University of Manitoba, 1923), 104. (Plate I)
Date of death: 28 August 1918. See casualty details, Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Buried at Vis-En-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt, Pas de Calais, France. Grave reference: V.H. 20.
