December 7, 2023. Whenever Pieter researches someone who has served in the military, we ask if there is any correspondence that the families might have. Sometimes a letter or postcard survives, which is wonderful.
In 2021, in the Atlantic Canada Remembers series, Angela Leighton submitted a photo of her uncle, Edison Reynolds SMITH, who was killed in action in The Netherlands on October 16, 1944, during the Battle of the Scheldt, while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. He’s buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem, Belgium. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-1/)
Edison Reynolds Smith. (Photo courtesy of Angela Leighton)
After the article was posted, Angela wrote us with more information. “…Edison Reynolds Smith was born May 11, 1924 on Port Hood Island, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to parents Guy and Grace (nee Watts) Smith. After his parents passed, Edison and his siblings were taken in by their aunt and uncle, Elsie and Roland Myers, and lived in Cooks Cove, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia from 1929 until 1944….”
Edison’s sense of duty was strong, and he enrolled in the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion of the Pictou Highlanders on August 24, 1942. “…Edison joined the Militia in August 1942 and worked as a lumberman for his uncle until he enrolled in the Canadian Army on August 30, 1943….” He enlisted at the No. 6 District Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Angela Leighton, whose mother Dorothy was the younger sister of Edison Reynolds Smith, kept the letters he wrote to family. (Photo submitted by Angela Leighton)
Angela then mentioned that she had letters that Edison had written during the time of his military service! The letters reveal an engaging man who had suffered much tragedy in his young life, but never lost his optimistic spirit, even when he encountered more loss. He was deeply interested in his family and friends, and kept up an active correspondence. As time went on, he yearned to be back in Nova Scotia, surrounded by those he loved.
This was confirmed by Angela, whose mother Dorothy (Dot) was Edison’s sister. “…His mother (my grandmother) died on January 11, 1928. Her husband (my grandfather) died January 30, 1929. …It is no wonder Edison had such a love of family after such tragedy in those years before and really wanted to come back home….”
Edison (left) with his sister Dorothy and younger brother Wesley in 1943. (Photo courtesy of Angela Leighton)
… Edison began his army training in September 1943…
After enlisting, Edison was sent to No. 60 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on September 17, 1943.
On November 19, 1943, he was sent to A14 Canadian Infantry Training Centre (CITC) in Aldershot, Nova Scotia for further training. He received embarkation leave, from January 22 to February 4, 1944, the last chance he had to see his family.
After returning from leave, Edison remained in Aldershot until February 20, 1944, when he was transferred to the No.1 Training Brigade in Debert, Nova Scotia for final training and preparation for overseas service.
In a March 15, 1944 letter to his sister Dorothy, written from No 2 Temporary Transit Camp in Debert, Edison related one of the experiences and mentioned a friend from back home: “…We just got back off of our three day scheme. We slept out in the woods two nights and we marched about 26 miles altogether. I didn’t mind it though. It was a change from sleeping in the barracks…I saw Victor Shea up here the other day, he just came here about three or four days ago….It was terrible cold here right after I came back off of my weekend. It was about 20 below zero one night. But it’s a lot warmer now. We moved today to a different part of the camp…”
An April 1, 1944 letter to Dorothy, also written from Debert, noted that: “…my eyes have been paining me a little lately….I went on sick parade, but they only gave me a few tablets.…”
… Edison left Canada for overseas service in April 1944…
Not mentioned in the letter was that Edison was on his way to the United Kingdom. On April 6, 1944 he left Canada, arriving in the United Kingdom on April 12, 1944, where he was assigned to No 4 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU).
Edison’s initial impression of England was positive, as he related in an April 14, 1944 letter to his sister Dorothy, written from No 4 CIRU: “…It’s lovely weather over here except it rains once in a while…I spent Easter in the middle of the Atlantic. It was a nice place to spend Easter, wasn’t it?….I had a good trip coming across but it was a little crowded….”
Not long afterwards, Edison was sent to No 10 Battalion, Canadian Base Reinforcement Group (CBRG), but was still in England. A poignant May 11, 1944 letter to his aunt, Elsie Myers, reflected that “…Today is my birthday. I hope I will be home my next birthday…”
… Edison loved getting mail from back home…
In a May 25, 1944 letter, written from No 10 Battalion CBRG in England, Edison answered his sister Dorothy’s query about Victor Shea. “…I got two letters today and both from you. There’s nothing cheers me up any more than getting letters…..I haven’t seen Vic for a while. He is not with me at all now. He was with me all the time coming across on the ship from Canada and he ate and slept right where I did all the way coming across…”
Victor SHEA had joined the Canadian Parachute Battalion in 1942. When more soldiers were needed for battle on the beaches of Normandy after D-Day, he transferred to infantry and was on the front lines, joining the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. He received France’s Croix de Guerre (Medal of Valour) for his bravery in the liberation of France.
Before ending his letter, Edison assured his sister that he appreciated a parcel she’d sent. “…Thank you so much for the box you sent me. We get lots to eat but it’s nice to have a change from army grub…”
Dorothy wasn’t the only one to inquire about Victor Shea and other soldiers from their area. In a May 25, 1944 letter to his cousin Abbie, daughter of his uncle Roland and aunt Elsie Myers, Edison explained that “…Vic Shea isn’t where I am at all now so there isn’t any one from home with me now….They are about the only ones anyways handy from home. But I know a lot of the boys here by now because I went through all my training in Canada with them….If they send me a box from home, tell them to send me a few apples because I never tasted a bit of fruit of any kind since I came over here…”
… Edison leaves for France and the D-Day invasion with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders…
On June 2, 1944, Edison was assigned to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, as they prepared to leave the United Kingdom for France as part of the 21st Army Group.
The war diary for the North Nova Scotia Highlanders for June 3, 1944 noted that they “… embarked from G1 Hard, Stokes Bay…..” and were “…lying out in the Southampton waters just outside Netley…” while awaiting clearance to cross the English Channel.
There was a delay in leaving due to heavy winds on June 4, so it wasn’t until June 5, 1944 that the crossing began. “…At 1400 hours the flotilla moved out to the open sea and formed up with the other craft taking part in the invasion…” This, of course, was to be what we know as D-Day.
On June 6, 1944, the war diary recorded that “…by 1400 hours all our troops were ashore, but as the Eighth Canadian Infantry Brigade had not found the going as easy as expected, we were unable to get through the town and were unable to assemble at ‘ELDER’, near Beny-Sur-Mer, as planned, and the Commanding Officer decided to assemble in a field….”
D-Day was Edison’s first experience of fighting, but he survived.
… Tragedy strikes but Edison was not yet aware of another loss…
In early June, 1944, a telegram was sent to Edison’s brother, Wesley Smith in Cooks Cove, Nova Scotia, stating that Edison had been wounded on June 9, 1944, but remained on duty with his unit. A notice of his being wounded is also recorded in Edison’s service file. However, Edison later stated to his family that he was not wounded.
Edison (left) and Wesley Smith. (Photo courtesy of Angela Leighton)
What Edison didn’t know – and apparently neither did the military who sent the telegram – was that his younger brother Wesley, who was in the Reserves, had drowned on May 27, 1944. He was only 16 years old.
….Coming up in Part 2…
In Part 2, Edison sees active service in France, Belgium, and The Netherlands and learns about the loss of his younger brother.
Thank you to Angela Leighton for sharing photos and letters written by her uncle. Do you have information to share about Canadian soldiers, please email us at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.
© Daria Valkenburg
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On The War Memorial Trail Research Project........ with Pieter and Daria Valkenburg 
loved reading your post.
This is what I love in your post
Such a touching story of bravery and resilience. Edison’s love for his family and his optimistic spirit shine through in his letters. Thank you for sharing this piece of history!
Thanks, Ely Shemer
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Thank you for you comment Ely. Edison was a young man that was deeply loved by his family and that comes through in his correspondence. It is remarkable that the letters were saved and have been treasured by his family. Daria and Pieter
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