I was serving when he died. It was surreal when he'd heard "Smokey died". We all felt a sting. He was that legendary. A true Canadian soldier in every single sense. Always loved to have a drink of scotch with Seaforths of all generations too. @DarkDocs Could you do a video on Major Frederick Albert Tilston VC? He epitomizes what a true officer is like. There's a BBC interview with him that shows how calm and collected he was during hellish combat during the vicious Battle of the Hochwald. One of his goals during the war was to take out Germans with a grenade, which he did several times on that occasion. Always calm, cool and collected, he rallied and supported his troops despite being repeatedly wounded. He lost an eye and both legs and wouldn't accept medical aid until his troops were consolidated and orders passed on. His uniform is on display at the front of the F.A. Tilston Windsor Garrison Armouries, where his successor unit, The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment is garrisoned and pays respects to the Battle of the Hochwald every year.
Fantastic story as usual DD!! That was one badass Canuck! As an American living near our northern allies border, all of my respect. Thank you for your service! 🇨🇦🇺🇸
@@chadrowe8452 the leaders of both parties have no plan in strengthening and equipping our military…. Sigh…. The current PM is turning our soldiers into homeless people…. While serving….
The Canadians are not forgotten in the UK , I mean 3 VC winners from one street is a hell of a thing , your Tankers , your Aircrew your infantry your artillerymen, incredibly Brave men and brings us pride to fight with you as allies.
Smokey reminds me of my uncle Don who spent 5 years in Europe with the Canadian Army...went over a private came back a corporal due to many shenanigans!
I met a Viet Nam Veteran, at an AA meeting. He was Army Infantry. His platoon leader told him that he would never get hit, because, when fire came in, NO ONE could hit the ground faster than Charlie. This guy was a bus driver for the city of Boston, and one night, while extremely drunk, he stole a city bus and took it for a joy ride.
I think I may have actually met that guy (thankfully not on the bus!) I'm from the north shore of Massachusetts and met quite a few nam vets in the halls. Their stories of life after coming home were even crazier than the war itself.
@@4everhabs He's a great guy. I met him at a meeting in North Hampton. I'm from NH, but I got sober in NC. God bless you. How long have you been sober?
@@drydogg 16 months this time around. I first entered the halls back in 2019 but unfortunately relapse is a part of my story. It wasn't until I came back after a few unfortunate life changing events that I've been doing the program by the book and truly starting over.
Much respect to this brave man... My Dad fought in Africa during WW2 and was in the brig a few times because of his bad behaviour. He was severely wounded by an 88mm shell and spent 2 years in Cairo in the hospital, so he had lots of time to get up to mischief.. lol. He as gaoled for breaking into the NAAFI but a Brigadier General got him out for some reason. It is in his NZEF papers.
:D noticed the same with my grand father, some how in cairo he went from a sergeant to a private :P he managed to get demoted twice in one war lol he got back to corporal then demoted again :P
Bravery infects the most unlikeliest of men. And they run into danger irregardless of the value they place on their own lives. And you never will know for sure who they are where they come from. Thank you Mr Smith
Truly a courageous and brave Private. Private Smith being the only Canadian Soldier as a Private. To receive the VC. Private Smith certainly as a Soldier was cut from a different cloth. 💪👃✨
I knew Smokey well. The first time I met him was in Holland in 1985. We were there marching the routes of the WW 2 victory parades. A bunch of WW 2 vets walked up to me (a 19 year old trooper) and told me to take a scotch up to Smokey and ask him to tell the story of the VC. I walked up to him and introduced myself he took the scotch and said, "Don't call me sir call me Smokey." I asked him again to tell the story. He smiled at me and said, "There we were dug in at a cross-roads and we were given boxes of Crack-Jacks with our rations. I opened mine and when I got to the bottom I found this VC. I've worn it ever since." He laughed, tossed back the scotch and then walked away. The circle of vets came up to me after and told me that he didn't tell the story much anymore and they though I might be able to get him to tell it because I looked so young. Over the years I would bring up to Smokey that he still owed me the story for the scotch (not that it was the only one I ever bought him) but he never told it to me directly. I heard him tell the story only a couple of times in the Seaforth Highlanders mess when he was in his cups but it was only when members of his old company were around.
I adore him, a true Canadian. He was a Canadian, first...no need to bow to a king! Though I love how he is either chewing tobacco or chewing gum in much of the video.
Man he was one tough mo fo!! It seems like it's always the ones who are more alive by acting out or just getting into petty trouble are the ones who go against the grain and show people there are other ways to be successful RIP Valhalla opened its gates for you.💯😳
R! I! P! Greatest Generation! I Miss You "A" Y'all, YA"LL!! had an American gramps pay for his own pilots lic under aged, then joined the RCAF, he fought the Battle of Britian to the end with every ally And the french a bucket "O" allied medals. RIP Woody
My uncle was a driver of a Sherman tank in N Africa. His tank was grazed by a Tiger and it still was mostly destroyed. He almost lost a leg. Long story short after he came home he never drove any vehicle of any kind for the rest of his life.
When I was in the service the story I was told that he was inebriated,everyone had moved back,he woke up and went to work with a Canadian anti tank gun.he was a crazy guy,he stopped the rush for the bridge..
Met him when he was still alive, was honored to meet him. Then years later, I was honored to be an honor guard member for him. Later that day, we did a funeral at sea for him.
This is the kind of guy that needs a movie to be made about him. Come on Canada, do your country proud! I mean you've committed some interesting war crimes but at least his guy you could make a movie about.
@zertoil I met him when he was still alive, was honored to meet him (3PPCLI). Then years later, I was honored to be an honor guard member (HMCS OTTAWA) for him. Later that day, we did a funeral at sea for him.
My dad and his dad were both scottish seaforth Highlander. His dad fought in the first war in Flanders and survived the onslaught and then went on to the second war was captured in Germany, escaped a prisoner war camp and walked back through Europe in his bare feet to safety in france where he was debriefed and returned to the front lines my dad fought in Egypt during the uprising in 54 then served at the Berlin wall afterwards. If tube would let you load photos I'd show the highlanders hat pins and bugle badge plus medals I have here
I just love your production man. I feel bad for your intros being so comprehensive. I'd leave more cliffhangers or a big one at the end of every intro.
A word to the wise: Canadian troops can be really, and I mean REALLY tough s.o.b.’s. We were lucky they were/ are allies. They always seem to punch above their weight.
ABSOLUTLY WOW. A tremendous chapter in your outstanding channel. If there was ever a man who deserved to have had his story told by Hollywood, he was the one. But how Canada has changed. From a nation of authentic men to a puke named Trudeau as their PM. Thank you for showcasing this heroic man.
The PIAT anti tank gun was dodgy, but in the hands of a certified loon it could do a lot of damage. Looked like a fatman from fallout, but with a big ass spring in it that needed cocking. The recoil could dislocate your shoulder, lulz.
Ignoring discipline often gets the people around you killed, wounded or crippled, still war is a game of contradictions, exceptions, terror and boredom.
@@Charles-k9g5y Nah, that's not bad spelling. It's clear that your finger hit the wrong key by accident and you didn't catch it. I was hoping you'd get a kick outta that!
Don't sell yourself short pal 😉 It's a cracking site with memorising true accounts but, it don't write and present itself does it 😉. I've been watching this channel quite some time now, and I like having my own ignorance diminished 😆😅👍God bless you and yours 🤗🕊️
Try InVideo AI for free and use our code DARKDOCS50 to get twice the number of video generation credits in your first month: invideo.io/i/DarkDocs
I was serving when he died. It was surreal when he'd heard "Smokey died". We all felt a sting. He was that legendary. A true Canadian soldier in every single sense. Always loved to have a drink of scotch with Seaforths of all generations too.
@DarkDocs Could you do a video on Major Frederick Albert Tilston VC? He epitomizes what a true officer is like. There's a BBC interview with him that shows how calm and collected he was during hellish combat during the vicious Battle of the Hochwald. One of his goals during the war was to take out Germans with a grenade, which he did several times on that occasion. Always calm, cool and collected, he rallied and supported his troops despite being repeatedly wounded. He lost an eye and both legs and wouldn't accept medical aid until his troops were consolidated and orders passed on. His uniform is on display at the front of the F.A. Tilston Windsor Garrison Armouries, where his successor unit, The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment is garrisoned and pays respects to the Battle of the Hochwald every year.
Fantastic story as usual DD!! That was one badass Canuck! As an American living near our northern allies border, all of my respect. Thank you for your service! 🇨🇦🇺🇸
First story that literally brought tears to my eyes. Proud Canadian here.
Uncle Peter gave up the ghost near Rimini.
Glad that in the end people saluted him.
What a soldier
RIP...sir
Without your gallant story, we would not be able to show others...what can be done 👍
Dude is a hero. A true hero. Cheers from the land to the South of you Canadians. You can be proud of that one!
Added: 🇨🇦🇺🇸
Great story of what it took to be a hero in a time when millions of men had to be heroes!
Nice to hear a story about us Canadians.
We already know that we were savages but the stories are nice😂
The Canadians were solid thats for sure. Edit is I hope they remain so, I see a dark future.
@@chadrowe8452 the leaders of both parties have no plan in strengthening and equipping our military…. Sigh…. The current PM is turning our soldiers into homeless people…. While serving….
@@9OClockRant same here all the standards have been lowered. Eventually seals or sf will mean not fat
The Canadians are not forgotten in the UK , I mean 3 VC winners from one street is a hell of a thing , your Tankers , your Aircrew your infantry your artillerymen, incredibly Brave men and brings us pride to fight with you as allies.
Smokey reminds me of my uncle Don who spent 5 years in Europe with the Canadian Army...went over a private came back a corporal due to many shenanigans!
THAT is a true hero, not some footballer or pop star.
I met a Viet Nam Veteran, at an AA meeting. He was Army Infantry. His platoon leader told him that he would never get hit, because, when fire came in, NO ONE could hit the ground faster than Charlie. This guy was a bus driver for the city of Boston, and one night, while extremely drunk, he stole a city bus and took it for a joy ride.
I think I may have actually met that guy (thankfully not on the bus!) I'm from the north shore of Massachusetts and met quite a few nam vets in the halls. Their stories of life after coming home were even crazier than the war itself.
@@4everhabs He's a great guy. I met him at a meeting in North Hampton. I'm from NH, but I got sober in NC. God bless you. How long have you been sober?
@@drydogg 16 months this time around. I first entered the halls back in 2019 but unfortunately relapse is a part of my story. It wasn't until I came back after a few unfortunate life changing events that I've been doing the program by the book and truly starting over.
@@4everhabs I'm glad to hear it! Good Luck!
@@drydogg thank you. One day at a time! God bless.
Much respect to this brave man... My Dad fought in Africa during WW2 and was in the brig a few times because of his bad behaviour. He was severely wounded by an 88mm shell and spent 2 years in Cairo in the hospital, so he had lots of time to get up to mischief.. lol. He as gaoled for breaking into the NAAFI but a Brigadier General got him out for some reason. It is in his NZEF papers.
:D noticed the same with my grand father, some how in cairo he went from a sergeant to a private :P he managed to get demoted twice in one war lol he got back to corporal then demoted again :P
Bravery infects the most unlikeliest of men. And they run into danger irregardless of the value they place on their own lives. And you never will know for sure who they are where they come from. Thank you Mr Smith
Truly a courageous and brave Private. Private Smith being the only Canadian Soldier as a Private. To receive the VC. Private Smith certainly as a Soldier was cut from a different cloth. 💪👃✨
He was a antihero ❤
Just firing a PIAT was worthy of a medal. It was so dangerous and difficult to use they were got rid of in very short order after WW2.
I knew Smokey well.
The first time I met him was in Holland in 1985. We were there marching the routes of the WW 2 victory parades. A bunch of WW 2 vets walked up to me (a 19 year old trooper) and told me to take a scotch up to Smokey and ask him to tell the story of the VC.
I walked up to him and introduced myself he took the scotch and said, "Don't call me sir call me Smokey."
I asked him again to tell the story. He smiled at me and said, "There we were dug in at a cross-roads and we were given boxes of Crack-Jacks with our rations. I opened mine and when I got to the bottom I found this VC. I've worn it ever since." He laughed, tossed back the scotch and then walked away. The circle of vets came up to me after and told me that he didn't tell the story much anymore and they though I might be able to get him to tell it because I looked so young.
Over the years I would bring up to Smokey that he still owed me the story for the scotch (not that it was the only one I ever bought him) but he never told it to me directly. I heard him tell the story only a couple of times in the Seaforth Highlanders mess when he was in his cups but it was only when members of his old company were around.
I adore him, a true Canadian. He was a Canadian, first...no need to bow to a king! Though I love how he is either chewing tobacco or chewing gum in much of the video.
Don't matter what country you come from...A bad ass is a bad ass ... The man was a true warrior 🪖... God have mercy on his brave soul 🇨🇦
Had the honour to meet and talk with Smokey when a young corporal in the Royal Westminster Regiment. He was down to earth and very personable
Rest easy soldier🇨🇦
Rest easy hero 🇨🇦
Rest easy sir 🇨🇦
I want to Thank you so very much for your Courageous service iSir /Canadian BADASS !!!!!
Rest in Peace WARRIOR !!!!!!!
Man he was one tough mo fo!! It seems like it's always the ones who are more alive by acting out or just getting into petty trouble are the ones who go against the grain and show people there are other ways to be successful RIP Valhalla opened its gates for you.💯😳
He was a Antihero
in war, you need blokes like this
R! I! P! Greatest Generation! I Miss You "A" Y'all, YA"LL!!
had an American gramps pay for his own pilots lic under aged, then joined the RCAF, he fought the Battle of Britian to the end with every ally And the french a bucket "O" allied medals. RIP Woody
'demoted 9 times' and apparently unfazed by such inconsequence.
If that was me, i would be totally pissed at what we call the house of commons today !
Sometimes you have to be a trouble maker to be a hero.
A lot of heros were trouble makers. 😇😇😇😇
They are called Antiheros
I like him. Hero and rebel.
What an amazing and inspiring story! Thank you!!!
My uncle was a driver of a Sherman tank in N Africa. His tank was grazed by a Tiger and it still was mostly destroyed. He almost lost a leg. Long story short after he came home he never drove any vehicle of any kind for the rest of his life.
Damn. I don't blame him. I probably wouldn't either.
A VC recipient handed for exceptional bravery the highest honour in Comonwealth Armed Forces
An interesting clip of Canadians using a captured italian Semovente self-propelled gun. This is a first for me.
Let’s not forget to be unburdened by what has been so that we can burden ourselves again to remember what once was.
i very much hope you keep this narrator :-) always pleasant and gentlyfitting
When I was in the service the story I was told that he was inebriated,everyone had moved back,he woke up and went to work with a Canadian anti tank gun.he was a crazy guy,he stopped the rush for the bridge..
Met him when he was still alive, was honored to meet him. Then years later, I was honored to be an honor guard member for him. Later that day, we did a funeral at sea for him.
This is the kind of guy that needs a movie to be made about him. Come on Canada, do your country proud! I mean you've committed some interesting war crimes but at least his guy you could make a movie about.
@zertoil
I met him when he was still alive, was honored to meet him (3PPCLI). Then years later, I was honored to be an honor guard member (HMCS OTTAWA) for him. Later that day, we did a funeral at sea for him.
Canada today is not the same as it use to be unfortunately.
These are the type of high quality stories that made me a SUBSCRIBER.
Ernest Goes to War!
Canadian hero
Amazing video, proud he was Canadian
My dad and his dad were both scottish seaforth Highlander. His dad fought in the first war in Flanders and survived the onslaught and then went on to the second war was captured in Germany, escaped a prisoner war camp and walked back through Europe in his bare feet to safety in france where he was debriefed and returned to the front lines my dad fought in Egypt during the uprising in 54 then served at the Berlin wall afterwards. If tube would let you load photos I'd show the highlanders hat pins and bugle badge plus medals I have here
Excellent coverage of a true hero 💪🇨🇦🙏
I just love your production man. I feel bad for your intros being so comprehensive. I'd leave more cliffhangers or a big one at the end of every intro.
A word to the wise: Canadian troops can be really, and I mean REALLY tough s.o.b.’s. We were lucky they were/ are allies. They always seem to punch above their weight.
I got in trouble on every base is was stationed on. May have been alcohol involved.
Just like a lot of us, thanks for the beers by.
A Real Hero
You seldom win wars with choir boys.
Another most important battle of the war
Seems to me from the description he was just a punk Rocker ahead of its time in the best way❤
Sounds like the sort of man who would have thrived in something like the LRDG or other irregular forces.
Wow, first successful allied landing in Europe.
Never heard of that.
Guess they weren’t yanks.
The Canadians have a reputation for being the toughest and most feared soldiers in the world
....because we are eh?
Some sources state that the Afrika Korps commander Erwin Rommel remarked "Give me the Maori Battalion and I will conquer the world".
Yes, heil Canada!
We are fucking loonie up here bud
That was before the DEI…….
He was using a PIAT, projectile,infantry, anti tank. Not a pait ....
🫡
True warriors arn't valued by Canada anymore, but circumstances can, and will, change.
one bloke I'd love to have a beer with sounds more like a Aussie
Thanks for telling his story. Canada was a powerful force in ww1 ww2. Even now, they are good. Just don't make a movie about their accomplishments
Are you sure? What about Justin T?😂
@@Thoughtwatch_seeker Can't get any worse than old man Biden or ornge Oompa Loompa looking Trump. Call them The Three Stooges.
As all MoH and VC recipient the man/women rose to the occasion, some would have never been expected to. RIP soldier.
Amazing Fellah. Deserving of England's highest honour. How different a post war experience to Tommy Prince.
Awesome video !
I live in BC and have heard him tell the story
ABSOLUTLY WOW. A tremendous chapter in your outstanding channel. If there was ever a man who deserved to have had his story told by Hollywood, he was the one. But how Canada has changed. From a nation of authentic men to a puke named Trudeau as their PM. Thank you for showcasing this heroic man.
I never had to hold my nose and vote for Trudeau but Pierre P. or Harper will have been worse.
Speak for yourself.... weve had a lot of shitty politicians, and both had AND HAVE mostly geat canadians in this country. No big difference.
feels so weird to see all these UA-camrs cannibalize their own future by shillings the tools that will replace them.
Your tin hat fell off
@@CarlosJuarez-eb5gx so pick it up, and go play in traffic.
@@CarlosJuarez-eb5gxWake up. Let’s go!
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Fugg Off gelle Psychotronic Harassement
No idea what i am talking about ir authentisch Füddläbürger
Seems like the sort of grunt you want next to you in a serious social encounter.
Rip Smoky Smith!!
He's walking along with an officer chewing gum. Something of a tell there.
Here's a good example of taking a knife to a gunfight.
I hope Canada is still this thick
The PIAT anti tank gun was dodgy, but in the hands of a certified loon it could do a lot of damage. Looked like a fatman from fallout, but with a big ass spring in it that needed cocking. The recoil could dislocate your shoulder, lulz.
He looks like trouble, a mix between Patton and curly 😅
THANK YOU
Video starts at time=3:40
Now you have gone and done it, haven't you! I don't know you personally, but I suspect you've done it again. Like this ain't your first rodeo.
Great video.
Don't mess with a Canadian, we are ruthless.
When you come from a place where the weather alone will kill you, things are different.
Great soldier!
Ignoring discipline often gets the people around you killed, wounded or crippled, still war is a game of contradictions, exceptions, terror and boredom.
Oh you must be a fn officer .
@@golden36 Nope, just saw a draft army that half of the new guys were just hamburger for the old timers.
I love this channel but an ad at 1:30 followed by an ad 10 secs later is crazy work
Fantastic 🎉!
I was in the CAF and always wondered how I’d doe in combat
Hopefully better than you can spell!
@@MikeS-um1nm -- hopefully yes. Not only am I a poor speller but I also have fat fingers.
@@Charles-k9g5y Nah, that's not bad spelling. It's clear that your finger hit the wrong key by accident and you didn't catch it. I was hoping you'd get a kick outta that!
@@MikeS-um1nm -- I did. It was funny and sadly true.
@@Charles-k9g5y You're a good sport!
At 09:00 your commentary talks about MG42, but the video shows the earlier MG34.
Most definitely a MG42, not a 34
I thought Leo majors was the craziest Canuck lol
SUGGESTION …… Monk Eastman WW1 hero from the Gangs of New York book .
how can you be demoted nine times lolol now you dont mess with guys like this
Pro Valor
Don't sell yourself short pal 😉
It's a cracking site with memorising true accounts but, it don't write and present itself does it 😉. I've been watching this channel quite some time now, and I like having my own ignorance diminished 😆😅👍God bless you and yours 🤗🕊️
Canadian volunteers beneath British commonwealth armies fogged to several unthinkable difficulties and fatal dangerous
Badass of baddass’s
Why does every channel reverse the images? Nothing worse to a collector then seeing an MG 42 loading from the right side, left handed K98 ect..
Avoiding copyright issues.
R.I.P. Warrior
From:
A U.S. Marine
"Here at dark doc we kinow the power of a well told story..." that's why they get details wrong.
you kept him caged or he will escape and return back home because you brought him and many others against their will
Completely wrong , Canadian Military was all volunteer overseas.
wow.
Spelling out the PIAT launcher every time was real annoying. Why not just call it a PI-AT like normal?
Good video, thanks for sharing, YAH bless !
Canadas AUDY MURPHY🇺🇸🇨🇦
Anyone else thinking this is Ricky's grandpa?
🏆🎖️⭐🙏❤️🩹
Thank you for sharing this
Stating that the Germans were blood thirsty, is pure ignorance on your part.
Shoulda been A Sargeant Major.
Lmao..... he has me beat. I thought i was doing good after the 3rd time being promoted to spc/cpl