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Pte.Henry May page 4 of
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and first Glaswegian to be awarded the VC in the 1st World War
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HOUSE of LORDS
Dinner, 1929
Dinner at the Royal Gallery, House of Lords, on 9th November 1929
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In 1929 the then Prince of Wales, future Edward VIII,
held a dinner for holders of the V.C.
The dinner was held in
the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords and was quite a prestigious
event.
Three hundred and nineteen (319) VC holders attended, including Henry
May.
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Extract from e-mail, 5th
Feb.2003, Iain Stewart
"....I've recently been in touch, through a friend of his, with
Sergeant Ernest 'Smoky' Smith VC, 
Seaforth Highlanders of Canada who
lives in Vancouver. Smokey has a photograph of the 1929 Dinner and
a mate of his has scanned it for me and has sent it to me attached to an
email. Looking at the image, I see that Henry May is very prominent
sitting on the first table. I'm sure you can pick him out - second from
the right, with the basket table decoration in front him. As far
as I know this photograph was the only one taken of the event and for
historical reasons is quite important for showing so many VC holders in
one place." Regards, Iain Stewart
(The full list of attendees can be found at Iain's website).
Webmaister: what a wonderful
1929 photograph, thank you.
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Extract from e-mail, 8th
Feb.2003, Glesga Pal, Charlie McDonald
"Wull...a great photo of the VC winners. A couple of year ago I
was on the Somme for the First of July commemorations which I attend every
year. I broke off from the main party and went to lay a wreath in the
small village of Authuille where I had a memorial erected to the men of
the 15th (Glasgow Tramways), 16th (Glasgow Boy's Brigade) & 17th
(Glasgow Commercials) Battalions of the Highland Light Infantry about 7
year ago.
 Anyway , there I was sitting in the village pub and outside this big flash
limo draws up which had Canadian flags on the bonnet. Thinking to myself
it must be some fancy dan Canadian dignatory I just kept on drinking my
beer. In comes these rather official looking FBI stereotypes and give the
place the once over and then they stepped back out the door. I glanced out
the window and out of the limo steps this wee man with a Glengarry on his
head. I thought to myself "who is he"? Next thing I noticed was
he had a Victoria Cross pinned to his chest. I immediately jumped
up and asked one of his minders what the old guy was drinking and he
replied " whisky"...I ordered a treble. On entering the pub I
was introduced to none other than Smoky Smith the guy who posted
the photo to Ian Stewart. I had my photograph taken with him and it now
takes pride of place on my office wall. Smokey is a real gentleman.
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Extract from guestbook, 14th
May.2004, Brian Seward, North Vancouver, Canada.
"Would like you to know I am the gent who has the House of Lords
photo.
Smoky Smith's late wife gave it to me many years ago. .. and I sent a copy
to the VC website... Just last week I re did Smoky's VC group ( its my
hobby) as he is off to the D Day Show.. Good Luck to you all. I enjoy all
the VC sites Cheers Brian Seward
PS. I won't give my age . I believe I was a water boy at the last
supper"
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Webmaister :- I e-mailed Mr.Seward thanking him and he kindly
replied..................
Extract from his e-mail, 12th June 2004
Webmaister Wull. Nice to hear
from you. I had a lot of interest in Glasgow as I stayed overnight a few
times in the Service Club on Argyle St/?. I was three months in
Campbelltown training RN 1944-45 and I well remember the train
rides up from Manchester. Everybody in heavy Greatcoats (they got smelly
when wet) Coaches jammed packed some wanted the window open, some shut.
Then stagger to the Service kiosk for a free cuppa and a tabnab!.
One had to stay overnight in Glasgow as the McBraynes Bus left either
early morn or mid afternoon. I had a good buddy from Glasgow George Niven
Brabender. Never saw him again after I got demobbed. I then joined
the MN and spent a lot of time in Glasgow, I am accused today of being a
Scotsman I was with so many- particularly those from the Hebrides. I
jumped ship in Vancouver 1955 and eventually joined the Canadian
Engineers 25 years with them grabbed a few medals myself and now retired
with a hobby of collecting and mounting medals in my spare time.
I have mounted Smoky Smith's gongs a couple of times. It is kinda
scary having a VC in your house considering the worth!
Regards Brian Seward,
By the way I think I fell in love with a couple of Scots lassies up there.
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Extract from guestbook, Aug.2005,
Glesga Pal Ian Robertson, North Vancouver, Canada.
........Sergeant
“Smoky” Smith, a brave veteran of World War II, was given a full
military funeral.
He was also a veteran of the Korean War. He died this last week at age
92 and received the highest awards for bravery including the Victory
Cross, presented by the Queen in 1944.
This was the first Victoria Cross awarded to a non-commissioned officer
for uncommon bravery when he single handedly knocked out German tanks and
killed Nazi soldiers, who rushed at his position. He fought and killed
them with his Tommy gun and the rest retreated, thus saving his own men of
the Canadian Seaforth Highlander regiment.
“Smokey” came from Vancouver and was a
proud volunteer of the Seaforth Regiment, who’s armory is just 15
minutes walk, down the hill from where we live. His body was flown back to
Ottawa and given the highest honours given any soldier in almost half a
century. He was returned to Vancouver and his coffin lay for a day in his
old regiment hall where it was viewed by the many hundreds who came to
honour him. His family members stood by the coffin while mourners greeted
them.
Afterwards, his coffin was carried by an honour guard of fellow sergeants
of the regiment. His body was then taken in an open carriage with military
regiments from all over Canada, marching behind the flag draped coffin. He
was then honored in a military church service and praised by senior
military officers as being a special but ordinary soldier, whom he said,
was just doing his duty. “Smokey” always said that the real heroes
were those of his friends and others who died in action and never came
back.
A Canadian Air force Squadron flew over “Smoky’s”
last parade in a missing plane formation in his honour, and the Canadian
navy did their part by taking his remains out in the Pacific where his
ashes were scattered in the off shore waters of his beloved Canada. On
this special day, “Smokey Smith” was a very special reminder to all
who witnessed this 60th anniversary end of WW II hostilities of those many
heroes from Canada, America, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa
and the Commonwealth. They do not receive such military funerals.
Nevertheless, All these veterans of war deserve our recognition. Lest we
forget.
This date in August will become a permanent day of celebration/remembrance
throughout Canada for all our veterans living and dead. Its about time.
“Smoky’s” VC and his many other medals could have been sold by his
family to collectors for many thousands of dollars. But they did as “Smokey”
would have done. They gave it to be displayed in his beloved Seaforth
Highlander regimental hall and armory. Its what he would have wanted,
because, real heroes don’t count the cost.
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It has given me great pleasure pay tribute to
Bridgeton's war hero Henry May and through his webpages I have learned
about Sergeant 'Smoky Smith' ... its been a real joy for me working on these
webpages ........... Webmaister
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