Material Type

Recording

Date Range

1986

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

Local.

Acquisition Source

Smith, thomas p

Scope and Content

3 Cassette Tapes (JVC Dynarec F1/90, Base LH Extra I 90 minutes and 60 minutes).See Attached For Summary of interview With Thomas P. Smith. Family history. Father (Richard Tilotson Smith - 1882). Emigrated 1906. Family history. Mother (Rose Alice Wright - 1885) Emigrated 1889. Worked in Broadvi C.R.P. as a cook. Met and married Mr. Smith 1909. Tom born 1912. Father's employment and musical talents. attended Southminster church. Father played cricket at old Cricket Club. .W. Wallace Stopped (wholesale compan n Iron Springs fo Father worked at Taylor Mine north of KOA. Driver for R, Trip to Turin took 14 hours in a Model T Ford - 37 miles. discussed roads, adventures, speed, etc. 2 girls). Joined Canad Discussed teachers, Mi worked at government elevator 1929 - 1944. Father died 1966. Mother devoted her life to the raising of her family (7 boys, Auxiliary (6 boys in armed forces.). Tom born 1912. Lived at 727 - 16th Street North. Education. in particular - first woman principal in Lethbridge. 1925 - apprentice printer with Heintz & Sloane Printers. Worked at Great West Rubber Company, shoe factory, for 6-7 months. Lethbridge Sash & Door (1929), learned the glazing trade. Joined the army, went to trade school, became an assistant instructor for trade schoo before going overseas. Lethbridge Sash & Door sold out to Woodwards in 1973. Glass department became Advanc Mormom chur Union information and difficulties. Spindles, spiral staircases, cabinets for private homes, Ft. Steel Hotel Cabinet makers and carpentry. St. Augustine's affiliation. Linning "Lad with the twinkling feet", instructor 38. in Lethbridge. was in 1927 in gymnastics, run Other interests Cardston. Carpentry work at the Anglican church (Coaldale), Assumption church and Bank of Montreal Family musical abilities. Scouting in early 1920's (St. Mary' Sporting interests, soccer. Billy quit playing soccer in 1951 1927 - 1st softball team organized Boxing 1920's. Last amateur fight Bowling and curling after the war. Cricket. Courted Jean Firth 1937, married 1939. 030 - 038 Jean employed as a waitress during the war. 039 - 051 Jean worked as a children's attendant at the Capri Bowling Alley for 15 years. 052 - 064 Dieppe area opened for veterans. City gave approximately 125 acres to the Veterans L turn subdivided into lots for 100 veterans. Originally divided into 1 acre lots, the lots. 065 - 107 1949 made application for his lot and commenced to build his home, took approximately $6,000 from D.V.A., actual cost was about $7,400. Paid the City $396 for % acre. 108 - 134 Topiary (hedge trimming). 135 - 201 1922 Army cadets - Grade 6. George McKillop, Director. Cadet's Day - annual competi Mounted Police barracks (now where the Civic Centre is). 201 - 260 Joined the army reserve in 1927 at 15 years old. Was a reservist for 6 years. In 15 Camp in Calgary. 21 years total service - militia and active service. 261 - 390 Rejoined militia in 1939. Joined active service in 1941. Basic training - Calgary. Red Deer. 391 - 430 Went by convoy to England - zigzag course to Scotland due to enemy submarines. 461 - 503 Canadian camp - Slough, England (26 months). 004 - 028 Canadian Camp (Cont'd.) 029 - 096 Air raid alerts and attacks. 097 - 291 1944 D-Day. Fleet Station - Teepee Town waiting for transportation to France. Cross channel. Tr,^ 292 - 505 landed in Normandy in June, left in September. Field Tfa^rps-, 24 hour rations and the war discussed. 005 - 018 Billeting of troops in private homes after the invasion. Spent several months near A to Appledorn, Holland. 019 - 066 Memories of war experiences. Sniper nests. 067 - 096 War ended. Advance unit to Cologne. Black market. 097 - 146 Celebrated end of war in Brussels. Dutch people received the Canadians royally. 146 - 225 Aircraft attack. 231 - 303 Manoeuvres in England. Baptism of Fire (barbed wire stretched tight, men had to crav* underneath while a machine gun was fired just over their heads. 304 - 359 5 medals awarded to Tom. 411 - 441 Volunteered to go to Japan, while in London the war ended. 445 - 462 Returned home in September 1945, final discharge in October. 465 - 476 Back to work at Lethbridge Sash & Door. THOMAS P. SMITH 001 - 061 Joined Masonic Lodge #67 in 1966. Became Master of Lodge 1977. 1977 became District Master of District #7 Southern Alberta. 026 - 028 Retired 1973. 061 - 075 Jean and Tom both joined the Eastern Star in 1978. 076 - 097 Travelled to Europe in 1969, revisited battlegrounds. 097 - 101 In 1969 celebrated 30 years of marriage and 40 years with Lethbridge Sash & Door. 137 - 263 Trips to Hawaii, Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Mexico.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19871099001

Collection

Archive

Less detail