In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

SMITH, George Sellars - Peacefully, in his sleep at the Royal Victoria Hospital on May 3, 2007. Son of the late Allan Smith and the late Mary Sellars. Predeceased by his wife Gina, his brother Allan and his beloved Montreal Expos. Survived by his sons Allan, Peter (Maria) and Matthew (Patti) and his grandchildren Matthew Jake and Katie, his brother Dick and many nieces and nephews. George was born in Montreal's East End where as a youth he excelled at soccer and as a drummer. He served aboard HMCS CHILLIWACK in WWII. He graduated from McGill University and worked for many years at Cockfield Brown ad agency where he made many lifelong friends. As per George's wishes, no service will be held. He will be buried in Nova Scotia at a later date.

Ships served in:

HMCS CHILLIWACK

Former Shipmates and Lifetime Friends

These "Two Old Salts", Charlie Howell and George Smith stayed friends for their lifetime. They visited together frequently, and stayed in touch by long distance as often as possible. In 1995 they made a trip together from Shediac, NB to Halifax, NS to board HMCS SACKVILLE K181 - which was identical to their ship, HMCS CHILLIWACK K131.  HMCS SACKVILLE is the last known Second World War corvette in existence and is a museum ship at Halifax.

George Crossed the Bar in 2007 and Charlie Howell Crossed the Bar 2004

(CH01) Charlie Alfred Howell

(CH02) George Sellars (Smitty) Smith

(CH03) George Smith and Charlie Howell

(CH04) Charlie Howell and George Smith onboard HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(CH05) Charlie Howell and George Smith

(CH06) George Smith and Charlie Howell - Sep 1995

(CH07) Charlie Howell in the ASDIC Compartment on HMCS SACKVILLE K181

(CH08)  Charlie Howell in the seamen's mess on HMCS SACKVILLE K181

(CH09) George Smith by the forward gun mount on HMCS SACKVILLE K181

(CH10) George Smith and Charlie Howell on the quarterdeck of HMCS SACKVILLE K181

From the collection of Charlie Howell, SD, RCNVR

Courtesy of Norma Howell

(GS001-GS004) George Sellars Smith

(GS05-GS06) George Smith

(GS07) George Smith and ???

(GS08) unknown

(GS09) George Smith and ???

(GS010-GS011) AB George Smith

(GS012) AB George Smith (right) and his brother Flying Officer Allan Smith

(GS013) Article on the Smith brothers

(GS014-GS015) George Smith

(GS016) George Smith and unknown friend

(GS017) George Smith (left) and Charlie Howell

(GS018) Charlie Howell (left) and George Smith on HMCS CHILLIWACK at sea

(GS019-GS020) George Smith at the Halifax Commons before the riots

(GS021-GS022) George Smith, with his arm in a sling, the day after the riots.  The sailor to his immediate left (right hand side of photo) is the only other sailor in the photo off CHILLIWACK.

While participating in the riots, they were rocking a streetcar, trying to tip it over. George gave up and swung his arm at it saying "forget it, it's not going over" just as it finally tipped over. He broke his arm, went to the hospital, and thus was not arrested by the police, unlike his fellow rioters.

(GS023) Canadian Legion Hostel, Sydney, NS - Ticket 

(GS024) Invitation to HMCS CHILLIWACK'S At Home 02 Nov 1944

HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS026-GS028) Captured German U-boat U-744

Photo taken from the starboard side of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 - 06 Mar 1944

(GS029-GS031) Unknown frigate at sea. Her stern appears to be severely damaged

(GS032-GS034) HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 in rough seas

(GS035) Unknown corvette.  Possibly HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS036) Unknown object floating near the port quarter of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS037) Unknown object floating near the port quarter of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS038) Starboard side, aft on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 looking forward towards the boat deck

(GS039) Unknown coastline seen from HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS041) Unknown location seen from HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS042) An iceberg near HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 - off Newfoundland

(GS043) Starboard side looking aft from the bridge wing on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS044) Starboard side looking forward from beside the searchlight tub on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS045) The White Ensign of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS046) A dory moored near HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 in harbour at St. John's, Nfld

(GS047) George Smith (left) and Charlie Howell on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS048) The ship's cats - HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS049) Sailors on HMCS CHILLIWACK k131 chipping and painting.  It looks like they are quite relaxed while working.

(GS050) George Smith (left) and Charlie Howell on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS051) Unknown sailor as lookout by the port bridge wing machine gun on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS052) Unknown sailor on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS053) Unknown sailor working on the upper decks by one of the depth charge throwers on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS054) Unknown officer on the bridge of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS055) Unknown sailor catching up on some sleep in what may be the rope locker on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS056) Charlie Howell ashore  in Londonderry, Northern Ireland

(GS057) Charlie Howell (right) with unknown shipmate on the boat deck of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS058) Unknown sailor holding the ship's cats on the fo'c's'le of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS059) Three shipmates on the fo'c's'le of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131.  They look like they are ready to go ashore

(GS060) Three shipmates, George Smith in the centre, on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131.  

(GS061) CHILLIWACK sailors playing cards on the shore near the ship.  George Smith indicated by the arrow

(GS062) Porpoises racing alongside HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS063) Unknown sailor on HMCS CHILLIWACK holding a batch of fresh bananas while storing ship

(GS064) Two unknown sailors, believed to be off HMCS CHILLIWACK, in a photo booth ashore

(GS065) Two unknown sailors off HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 ashore - location unknown

(GS066) Unknown corvette

(GS067) Unknown troopship seen from HMCS CHILLIWACK K131.  Troopships, due to their high rate of speed, travelled independently instead of in convoy as their speed made them a very difficult targets for u-boats

(GS068-GS069) HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 passes by a USN landing craft US674

(GS070-GS073) HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 conducting a stern fueling while in convoy

(GS075) Merchant ships in convoy

(GS076) Merchant ships in convoy.  HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 in the foreground

(GS077) Merchant Aircraft Carrier in convoy

(GS078-GS079) Merchant ship in convoy

(GS079) Unknown location photographed from HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS080) Shoreline along the River Foyle photographed from HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS081) Sailors on the fo'c's'le of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131. Bermuda in the background

(GS082) Allied sub used for work-ups training in Bermuda. St. George's, Bermuda in the background

(GS084) St. George's, Bermuda during work-ups

(GS085) Four unknown sailors on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS086-GS088) George Smith aboard HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 as various time frames

(GS089) George Smith (centre) and and unknown shipmates on the jetty by HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS090) George Smith onboard HMCS CHILLIWACK K131. Behind him is the chart for the depth charge settings

(GS091) George Smith (left) and unknown shipmate on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131.  The unknown sailor in the photo is on duty as Quartermaster - you can see his lanyard and the top of the pistol holster

(GS092) George Smith on the jetty by HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS093) George Smith and Charlie Howell on the jetty by HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS094-GS095) HMCS KAMLOOPS K176

(GS096) HMCS KAMLOOPS K176 following astern of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS097) HMCS MORDEN K170

(GS098) Unknown Chief Petty Officer with 2 civilians.  He is believed to be off of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS099) Unknown person. He is believed to be off of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS100) George Smith by an air intake on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS101) Tot time on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 - George Smith rear, centre

(GS102) George Smith (left) and Bob Pratley by the gun deck on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS103) George Smith on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS104) Peaches (George Smith) and Brunel on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS015) Charlie Howell standing by the bull ring on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS106) Sailors on the quarterdeck of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 directly below the after gun tub

(GS107) "Geechee Joe" on the fo'c's'le of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS108) Unknown sailors on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS109) Norm, Swain and Cliff on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 

(GS110) Unknown sailor working on the gun deck by the 4-inch gun on HMCS CHILLIWACK K151

(GS111) Charlie Howell standing near the aft searchlight on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS112) Chartrand on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS113) Sandy Jewett by the Carley Floats on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS114) Bill Craig, Law, Price, Cliff, George on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131. The sailor with the hat is unknown

(GS115) Charlie Howell on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131.  By the looks of the photo it is dhobey day (laundry day)

(GS116) Jack on duty on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131. Note the dhobey hanging behind Jack.

(GS117) Norm Herd (right) with Charlie Howell on HMCS CHILLIWACK K131. Norm is on duty.

(GS118) HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 in refit Apr-Oct 1943 for her extended fo'c's'le

(GS119) Looking up from the quarterdeck of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 at the after gun tub

(GS120) An iceberg off the port quarter of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 - off Newfoundland

(GS121) Fo'c's'le and gun deck of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS122) Looking forward at the starboard side of HMCS CHILLIWACK'S gun deck

(GS123) Looking aft down the starboard side of the boat deck of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131

(GS124) 4-inch gun and bridge of HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 while alongside St. John's, Nfld. Photo taken from by the bull ring

(GS125) Fishing vessel in harbour, St. John's, Nfld

Bedford Magazine Explosion 18-19 Jul 1945

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