Basil Smith
| Date and Place of Birth: | August 25, 1916 Norfolk, Ontario Canada |
| Date and Place of Death: | September 13, 1944 Italy |
| Baseball Experience: | Amateur |
| Position: | First Base |
| Rank: | Gunner |
| Military Unit: | 1st Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery |
| Area Served: | Mediterranean Theater of Operations |
Basil W. Smith was born in Norfolk, Ontario, Canada on August 25,
1916. He attended public and continuation schools in Delhi – the Tobacco
Capital of Ontario - and was a well-known first baseman with the local
baseball team - the Delhi Tobaccomen. Smith also played defense for the
Delhi ice hockey team in the Norfolk Hockey League.
Smith worked as a lineman for the Delhi Hydro before enlisting for
active service in the fall of 1939. He trained at Simcoe and Camp
Petawawa in Ontario. Smith had been a member of Delhi’s volunteer fire
department before enlisting. When he came home on leave from Petawawa in
December 1940, he was presented with a pen and pencil set at the
Firemen’s Dance at the Stoddard Hotel.
Gunner Smith was sent overseas on December 12, 1940. Arriving in England
the day before Christmas, he worked with other Canadian soldiers in
demolition squads during the heavy bombing raids.
In August 1943, Smith left for Sicily with the 1st Field Regiment, Royal
Canadian Artillery. He remained on active service throughout the
Sicilian and Italian campaigns until the fall of Rome on June 5, 1944,
when he was given a week’s rest.
Smith got the opportunity to play a little ball while in Italy and
Trooper Percy Crosier, a Delhi local, got quite a shock when he saw that
the batter at the plate was his old friend, Basil Smith.
Gunner Smith died of wounds received in action in Italy on September 13,
1944. He was 28 years old.
In November 1944, his parents Mr and Mrs Whitfield Smith, received a
letter of sympathy from King George V and Queen Elizabeth of Great
Britain.
Basil Smith is buried at Gradara War Cemetery in Italy.
Date Added: Februray 8, 2013
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