L/Cpl Arthur Charles Smith, 1st Field Squadron, Military Medal

At 1500 hours, 28 April 1945, Lance-Corporal Smith was in command of a storm boat taking assaulting infantry from Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders from the west to the east bank of the Ems River under direct small arms fire from the enemy on the east bank. Two companies were taken in the first wave of the assault, the boats returning for a second trip to take across the remaining two companies. The boats came under heavy fire as soon as they left the near bank. Lance-Corporal Smith was wounded by a bullet along his ribs early in the first crossing but continued on with his job and, having disembarked the infantry on the far bank, returned to the near bank. Realizing that there were no spare storm boat crews available, in spite of his painful wound, and knowing that the crossing was still under heavy fire, he concealed the fact that he had been wounded, and crossed again with a load of infantry in the second wave. During this crossing he was again wounded, in the shoulder, but carried on to complete the crossing and bring his boat safely back to the near bank. His gallant conduct helped to make the assault a success. Had he stopped, after the first general assault, to have his wound dressed, his boat would not have been available for the second wave. His fine example was an inspiration to others.