Canada. A British War Medal, To Acting Lance Corporal Smylie, Canadian Tank Battalion

Canada; (233548 A. L. CPL. C.W. SMYLIE. CAN. TANK. BN.). Naming is officially impressed, with the "3" missing from the front of the service number versus his government records. Original ribbon, deep contact mark to the right of the naming and edge nicks, contact marks, very fine. Accompanied by a 1st Tank Battalion Cap Badge (pickled brass, unmarked, 45.5 mm (w) x 54.5 mm (h), intact lugs and pin), a 1st Tank Battalion Collar Tab Pair (pickled brass, unmarked, 39 mm (w) x 28 mm (h) each, one with intact lugs and pin, the other with one of the lugs repaired and its other lug original with its pin), along with copies of his Particulars of Recruit Drafted Under Military Service Act 1917 Paper and assorted research papers.

Footnote: Clifford Hugh Smylie was born on October 22, 1893 in Toronto, Ontario, his early years were spent in Toronto and Thorold, Ontario. He moved to New Liskeard, Ontario in 1901, first arriving in Temiskaming aboard the S.S. Meteor. He wrote in his memoirs: "There must have been a few misgivings, especially among the women, wondering what lay ahead. But the lake was calm, the sky clear, and the sunset beautiful, we anchored outside what became known as Sharp’s Cove. There was no dock, but two men in a large red 'pointer' or bateau about thirty feet long and four to six feet wide, with two sets of oars, made a good many trips to bring the people and freight ashore, I remember my concern for the little cow when she was pushed overboard and had to swim ashore. There were horses and lumber wagons with gravel boxes and boards for seats, waiting to take us to what was to become New Liskeard. It was dark now, and we were tired." Seven years later, he moved to Toronto in 1908, where he attended Harbord Collegiate. He was a student at the University of Toronto and a resident of Toronto when he was conscripted, signing his Particulars of Recruit Drafted Under Military Service Act 1917 Paper as a Private (3233548), with the 2nd Depot Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment, at Exhibition Camp, No. 2 Military District in Toronto, on April 4, 1918, at the age of 24, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. Eva McDonald of New Liskeard, Ontario, stating that he had one year previous service with the Canadian Officer Training Corps, that he was Single, that his religion was Presbyterian and that his trade was that of Medical Student. He went overseas in June 1918 and served with the 1st Tank Battalion. Upon the ceasing of hostilities, he returned to Canada, where he resumed his medical studies. He put himself through medical school by working at several jobs, but most notably in the Casey-Cobalt Mine where, after some experience in other aspects of mining he became a "cookee" and later, a cook. He graduated as a Medical Doctor from the University of Toronto in 1925. After graduation, Dr. Smylie would go on to practise in the Parry Sound District, the Cochrane District, Arnstein, Earlton Junction, Matheson and Monteith. As a doctor in a rural practice, he made house and hospital calls in all sorts of weather in the Districts of Temiskaming and Cochrane. Located in Matheson for many years, and covering distances too small for bush planes yet much too great for walking, Dr. Smylie used every means available to reach his patients: hopping freight trains; driving horses; travelling at high speeds overland in a home-made "snowplane" (no modern snowmobiles yet); and bouncing over ruts in the early models of motor cars. He risked life and limb in attempting to bring comfort and medical assistance to the people of the Northern Ontario communities and outlying farms and camps. He moved to Toronto in 1941 and retired in 1954. In his personal life, he was married with a daughter and three sons. Dr. Clifford Hugh Smylie died on March 8, 1957 at the age of 63.

Canada; (233548 A. L. CPL. C.W. SMYLIE. CAN. TANK. BN.). Naming is officially impressed, with the "3" missing from the front of the service number versus his government records. Original ribbon, deep contact mark to the right of the naming and edge nicks, contact marks, very fine. Accompanied by a 1st Tank Battalion Cap Badge (pickled brass, unmarked, 45.5 mm (w) x 54.5 mm (h), intact lugs and pin), a 1st Tank Battalion Collar Tab Pair (pickled brass, unmarked, 39 mm (w) x 28 mm (h) each, one with intact lugs and pin, the other with one of the lugs repaired and its other lug original with its pin), along with copies of his Particulars of Recruit Drafted Under Military Service Act 1917 Paper and assorted research papers.
Footnote: Clifford Hugh Smylie was born on October 22, 1893 in Toronto, Ontario, his early years were spent in Toronto and Thorold, Ontario. He moved to New Liskeard, Ontario in 1901, first arriving in Temiskaming aboard the S.S. Meteor. He wrote in his memoirs: "There must have been a few misgivings, especially among the women, wondering what lay ahead. But the lake was calm, the sky clear, and the sunset beautiful, we anchored outside what became known as Sharp’s Cove. There was no dock, but two men in a large red 'pointer' or bateau about thirty feet long and four to six feet wide, with two sets of oars, made a good many trips to bring the people and freight ashore, I remember my concern for the little cow when she was pushed overboard and had to swim ashore. There were horses and lumber wagons with gravel boxes and boards for seats, waiting to take us to what was to become New Liskeard. It was dark now, and we were tired." Seven years later, he moved to Toronto in 1908, where he attended Harbord Collegiate. He was a student at the University of Toronto and a resident of Toronto when he was conscripted, signing his Particulars of Recruit Drafted Under Military Service Act 1917 Paper as a Private (3233548), with the 2nd Depot Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment, at Exhibition Camp, No. 2 Military District in Toronto, on April 4, 1918, at the age of 24, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. Eva McDonald of New Liskeard, Ontario, stating that he had one year previous service with the Canadian Officer Training Corps, that he was Single, that his religion was Presbyterian and that his trade was that of Medical Student. He went overseas in June 1918 and served with the 1st Tank Battalion. Upon the ceasing of hostilities, he returned to Canada, where he resumed his medical studies. He put himself through medical school by working at several jobs, but most notably in the Casey-Cobalt Mine where, after some experience in other aspects of mining he became a "cookee" and later, a cook. He graduated as a Medical Doctor from the University of Toronto in 1925. After graduation, Dr. Smylie would go on to practise in the Parry Sound District, the Cochrane District, Arnstein, Earlton Junction, Matheson and Monteith. As a doctor in a rural practice, he made house and hospital calls in all sorts of weather in the Districts of Temiskaming and Cochrane. Located in Matheson for many years, and covering distances too small for bush planes yet much too great for walking, Dr. Smylie used every means available to reach his patients: hopping freight trains; driving horses; travelling at high speeds overland in a home-made "snowplane" (no modern snowmobiles yet); and bouncing over ruts in the early models of motor cars. He risked life and limb in attempting to bring comfort and medical assistance to the people of the Northern Ontario communities and outlying farms and camps. He moved to Toronto in 1941 and retired in 1954. In his personal life, he was married with a daughter and three sons. Dr. Clifford Hugh Smylie died on March 8, 1957 at the age of 63.