Leigh Ransom Smith

Rank: 
Lance Corporal
Regimental number: 
18547
Unit at enlistment: 
9th Battalion
Force: 
C.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
No
Date of death: 
May 26th, 1915
Cemetery: 
Vimy Memorial - Pas de Calais, France
Commemorated at: 
Oakland Methodist Church, Mount Pleasant Memorial Plaque
Birth country: 
Canada
Birth county: 
Norfolk
Birth city: 
Townsend Township, Ontario
Address at enlistment: 
Edmonton, Alberta
Next of kin address: 
Oakland, Ontario
Trade or calling: 
Butcher
Religious denominations: 
Wesleyan
Marital status: 
Single
Age at enlistment: 
22

Letters and documents

Cause and Place of Death: Killed in Action in the field (at the brickyard Festubert)

BX June 30, 1915

Was Killed in Action – Lance Corporal Leigh Ransom Smith of Oakland, Brant County Boy, Gave up Life

Word has been received here that Lance Corporal Leigh Ransom Smith of Oakland, Ontario has been killed in action at the front. He was a member of the Third Battalion.

Lance-Corp. Leigh Ransom Smith is a son of Lyman L. Smith of Oakland, and was well known here having attended the Brantford Business College here. Later he went west and when war broke out was in Edmonton. He joined the 101st Edmonton Fusiliers, which formed part of the Ninth Battalion, but later was transferred to the Third (Toronto) Battalion. While fighting with these he met his death.

He was a single man, 24 years of age, and leaves four brothers, T.G., H.L., L.W., and C.L., and one sister, Mrs. W. Grantham, all of Oakland. He was a member of the C.O.F.

BX July 2, 1915

Leigh Ransom Smith Officially Reported Killed in Action

Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Smith, of Churches Station, received official communication from Ottawa last week confirming the report of the death of their son, Private Leigh Ransom Smith, from wounds received recently in France. As a young man Leigh was well known and had many friends here and had only been in the North-west a few months when he enlisted from Calgary with the first contingent.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith were in Quebec and Valcartier to bid him farewell the week the contingent left for England. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents and family in their sad news.