Sapper Rufus Alfred Smith
Survivor of WW1
Service Biography
Rufus Alfred Smith was born at Armstrong, Quebec, on 19 September 1894. A blacksmith living in Vancouver, British Columbia, he was drafted under the Military Service Act and entered the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Vancouver on 31 December 1917. He served as Sapper 2006989 with the Canadian Engineers, embarking for England in March 1918. In September 1918 he proceeded to France and joined the 6th Battalion, Canadian Engineers. After becoming ill with influenza in October he was invalided to England, where he underwent further hospital treatment through January 1919. Smith embarked from Liverpool aboard H.M.T. Royal George on 2 May 1919, disembarked at Halifax on 14 May, and was discharged at Edmonton, Alberta, on 19 May 1919 on demobilization.
General Information
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
2006989
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Regiment:
Canadian Engineers
Battalion:
6th Battalion, Canadian Engineers
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Armstrong, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
23 years 3 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
24 years 8 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Blacksmith
Next of Kin:
Dorothy M. Smith (sister), 10839 125th Street, Edmonton, Alberta
Address at Enlistment:
683 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, British Columbia
Religion:
Congregationalist
Place of Enlistment:
Vancouver, British Columbia
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 10.5 in / 179 cm
Weight:
144 lbs / 65 kg
Chest:
37.0 in / 94 cm
Expansion:
3.0 in / 8 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Edmonton, Alberta
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
504 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW1 |
Sapper |
Canadian Engineers |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
6th Battalion, Canadian Engineers |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Sapper |
Canadian Engineers |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
3rd Canadian Engineers Reserve Battalion |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Sapper |
Canadian Engineers |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Canadian Engineers Reinforcement Depot |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Sapper |
Canadian Engineers |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Canadian Engineers Reinforcement Pool |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Sapper |
Canadian Engineers |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
2nd Canadian Engineers Reserve Battalion |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Sapper |
Canadian Engineers |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Canadian Engineers Training Depot |
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1894-09-19 — Born
1917-09-25 — Medical examination under Military Service Act; Category A2
1917-12-31 — Drafted under Military Service Act; taken on strength
1918-03-07 — Embarked Canada for overseas service
1918-03-18 — Disembarked in England; taken on strength
1918-04-15 — Admitted with mumps
1918-05-10 — Discharged from hospital; returned to engineer depot/reinforcement administration
1918-06-20 — Posted to 2nd Canadian Engineers Reserve Battalion
1918-09-13 — Struck off strength to Canadian Engineers Reinforcement Pool
1918-09-14 — Taken on strength
1918-09-17 — Joined from Base
1918-09-28 — Struck off strength to 6th Battalion, Canadian Engineers
1918-09-29 — Taken on strength
1918-10-04 — Joined unit in the field
1918-10-04 — Admitted to hospital
1918-10-10 — Invalided sick to England aboard A.T. St. David; posted to Canadian Engineers Reinforcement Depot
1918-10-10 to 1918-10-22 — Hospitalized with influenza
1918-10-22 to 1918-12-16 — Hospitalized
1918-12-16 to 1918-12-20 — Hospitalized with pyrexia
1918-12-20 to 1919-01-13 — Hospitalized with debility following influenza
1919-02-10 — Dental examination for demobilization
1919-02-13 — Struck off strength to 3rd Canadian Engineers Reserve Battalion
1919-02-16 — Taken on strength from Canadian Engineers Reinforcement Depot
1919-04-04 — Struck off strength for return to Canada
1919-05-02 — Embarked Liverpool aboard H.M.T. Royal George for Canada
1919-05-14 — Disembarked
1919-05-19 — Discharged on demobilization
Notes
At enlistment Smith was a blacksmith, single, and living at 683 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, British Columbia. He named his sister Dorothy M. Smith of 10839 125th Street, Edmonton, Alberta, as next of kin.
Additional Service Notes
Rufus Alfred Smith was drafted under the Military Service Act on 31 December 1917 and served as Sapper 2006989 with the Canadian Engineers. He embarked from Canada on 7 March 1918 and disembarked in England on 18 March. After service with Canadian Engineers training and reinforcement organizations, he proceeded to France in September 1918 and joined the 6th Battalion, Canadian Engineers. He was hospitalized in October 1918 with influenza and invalided to England, where further hospital treatment continued into January 1919. He embarked from Liverpool on 2 May 1919 aboard H.M.T. Royal George, disembarked at Halifax on 14 May, and was discharged at Edmonton on 19 May 1919 on demobilization.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Sister Dorothy M. Smith was named as next of kin, residing at 10839 125th Street, Edmonton, Alberta. His 1918 will also named Dorothy M. Smith as beneficiary of his estate.
Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-07 02:05:03
by: marc
