Desmond Smith

Who was Desmond Smith?

James Desmond Blaise "Des" Smith, CBE, DSO, CD was a Canadian general active in World War II in both the Italy and Netherlands campaigns. Smith was born in Ottawa, Ontario on 2 October 1911. He studied at the Royal Military College and graduated in 1933. On graduation he was promoted to lieutenant and attached to the Royal Canadian Dragoons. He served in the Canadian infantry, and was called overseas in 1940 as a staff captain with the 1st Canadian Division. He became a Brigadier General in 1943 and commanded armoured brigades in both the Italian and Dutch campaigns. He came back to Canada in 1945, and took over command of the Royal Military College. During the 1950s, he commanded Canadian forces in Europe as part of NATO. He retired in 1962, to go work in the private sector, eventually moving to England. He retired in 1986, and died in London a few days after his 80th birthday in 1991.