HE GAVE HIS ALL FOR FREEDOM
THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD TO SAVE

PRIVATE ADON SMITH

CANADIAN INFANTRY

21ST OCTOBER 1916 AGE 26

BURIED: ADANAC MILITARY CEMETERY, MIRAUMONT, FRANCE


Adon Smith was an American citizen, the son of Adon and Emilie T Smith of 233 West 48th Street, New York. According to the 87th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force Nominal Roll, Adon Smith had previously served in the US Army. He was taken on the Canadian strength on 21 January 1916 and was killed in action sometime between the 21st and the 22nd October 1916 during the Canadian assault on Regina Ridge. The Battalion War Diary in recording what had happened throws light on the reason for Smith's date of death being so imprecise:

"D" Company reinforced the Battalion during the night of Oct. 21-22. During the attack and the following two days there were 281 casualties, of all ranks, including all but one of the officers who participated in the attack."

His mother confirmed his inscription, passionately stating the cause for which she believed her son had given his life.