Hide Article Text (OCR)
One of the most colorful fig ures in Canadian hockey circles, Major Conn Smythe, MC, (retir ed) of Toronto and Caledon, has been appointed Honorary Lieu tenant Colonel of the Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regi ment) Militia. At the same time, it is announced by Army Head quarters that Lieutenant Colonel John R. Barber of Georgetown, a former Commanding Officer of the Lorne Scots, has been ap pointed Honorary Colonel of the unit. The presentation of Colors for the Lorne Scots will take place at Lieutenant Colonel Smythe's farm on October 12. Born in Toronto in 1895, Col. Smythe was educated at Jarvis Collegiate Institute, Upper Cana da College and the University of Toronto. He graduated in 1920 with a bachelor of science de gree. Owned Blueshirts A former owner of the Toron to Maple Leaf hockey team, Con nie Smythe is widely known for his work with crippled child ren, and since 1945 has been treasurer and director of the On tario Society for Crippled Child ren. He is also a trustee of the Ontario Crippled Children’s Cen tre and director of Variety Voca tional Guidance School for crippled boys. Col. Smythe enlisted as a gun ner in the Canadian Expedition ary Force with the 25th Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery in 1915 and was commissioned the same year. While overseas in 1916, he was awarded the Military Cross. In 1917 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as a Flying Officer, was shot down and taken prisoner of war. He was mention ed in dispatches for his service in the Royal Flying Corps. In 1941 Col. Smythe was instru mental in the activities of the 30th Battery, RCA. This battery became part of the 6th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment and serv ed in the United Kingdom and Northwest Europe during the Second World War. To other gun ners in the corps it was fondly known as the “sportmen’s bat tery . Severely Wounded Col. Smythe was severely wounded in 1944 and returned to Canada in 1945. Residing in Caledon and at 68 Baby Point Road in Toronto, Connie Smythe is still active in the world of sport and business. He is the president for Smythe Sand Limited and is a director of the Ontario Jockey Club. Col. Smythe was married in 1920 to the former Irene Sands of Toronto and they have one daughter, Mrs. Miriam Hoult and two sons, Stafford, President of Maple Leaf Gardens and Dr. Hugh A. Smythe, M.D., all of Toronto. Col. and Mrs. Smythe have 12 grandchildren. Colonel Barber has had a long and distinguished record with the Lorne Scots, beginning his Army Service with the Canadian Officers’ Training Corps at the University of Toronto in 1924, re ceiving his commission as sec ond Lieutenant in 1925. By 1935 he had won his Majority with the Non Permanent Active Mili tia. In June 1940, he went on ac tive service with the Lorne Scots, serving overseas from June, 1941, until 1947. He supervised a re patriation of Canadian troops during the two years following the end of the war. In 1948 he re sumed service with the Lorne Scots militia becoming Com manding Officer in 1949. He was transferred to supplementary re serve in December, 1945. His medals and decorations include: Defence Medal; DVSM and Clasp; War Medal 1939-45; King George VI Coronation, 1937; ED; CD; Queen Elizabeth Coronation, 1953. He was appointed Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Lorne Scots in April, 1957; photo by R. Gordon Robinso
Newspaper Details
Milton Canadian Champion
Milton, Ontario, CA
Thu, Aug 29, 1963
Page 17
Full Page
Clipped by
Hannah V.
CA 14 Jul 2026
Other Publications Near Milton, Ontario
Milton Canadian Champion
