Arthur Britton Smith Explained

Arthur Britton Smith
Birth Date:	13 May 1920
Birth Place:	Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Death Place:	Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Alma Mater:	Royal Military College of Canada Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Occupation:	Soldier, lawyer, businessperson
Known For:	Philanthropy, war veteran, businessperson
Children:	3

Arthur Britton Smith (May 13, 1920 – October 28, 2023) was a Canadian philanthropist, businessperson, historical writer, lawyer, and war veteran.

Early life

Arthur Britton Smith was born in Kingston, Ontario on May 13, 1920, the son of Cyril Middleton Smith, a lawyer, and Edna Madeline Smith (née Spooner).^[1] Both his parents were originally from Manitoba. He and three sisters were raised in Kingston (plus one who died as a toddler), growing up on Stuart Street and Kensington Avenue. He received his primary and secondary education at Victoria Public School and Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute.

Career

Military service

Smith first joined the army in 1935 when, as a 15-year-old schoolboy, he enlisted as a part-time reservist in the 32nd (Kingston) Field Battery, an artillery unit in the Non-Permanent Active Militia.^{[2] [3]} In 1938, aged 18, he became a cadet (#2652) at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), located in his hometown of Kingston. Upon completing the program at RMC in 1940, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA), a corps of the Canadian Army. World War II was underway and that same year Smith was sent overseas to the United Kingdom, posted to the 8th Field Regiment, RCA. Smith later recalled that, as a young professional soldier, he was "delighted to have the opportunity to fight the war."^[4] In 1942, he was promoted to the rank of captain and transferred to the 4th Field Regiment, RCA.

In early July 1944, about a month after D-Day, Smith landed in Normandy, France, as part of the invasion follow-on forces. He was the commander of 'C' Troop, 14th Battery, 4th Field Regiment, RCA, which was part of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division. His time in France was to be brief.^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

Smith's unit went to the front lines on the night of July 11.^[9] On July 20, Smith was artillery Forward Observation Officer (FOO) with a company of the Fusiliers Mont-Royal (FMR), a French-Canadian infantry unit, during fierce and bloody fighting in the area of Verrières, just south of Caen (it was standard practise for the artillery troop commanders to act as FOOs—to in effect lead from the front).^[10] After the FMR initially took Troteval Farm, Smith was behind a wall speaking with another officer when a hand grenade was tossed from the other side and exploded in between the two officers. It was a German "egg" grenade; the grande left Smith with only some minor cuts.^[11] Smith asked a nearby Canadian tank to knock a hole through the wall, which he then rushed through looking for the enemy who had thrown the grenade. A German soldier, armed with a "Schmeisser" submachine gun, suddenly appeared and fired a short burst at Smith, with two bullets hitting Smith in the chest. Smith however was wearing body armour—plates of densely moulded plastic that shielded the most vital areas of his torso—which the Canadian Army had issued to infantrymen and forward artillery personnel who were going to Normandy.^[12] The bullets left two indentations in Smith's chest plate, each about an inch deep, but he suffered only bruising.^{[13] [14]}

During the remainder of that day and night and the following day, enemy armour and infantry (including elements of the 12th SS Panzer Division) mounted no fewer than four counter-attacks on the farm. To accurately direct the guns, he several times had to move to exposed positions in the face of heavy enemy fire. On one occasion, he and the few soldiers in his Observation Post killed several enemy troops who had gotten within 20 yards of their position.^{[15] [16]} In a final German counter-attack on the farm, the FMR company—now critically low on ammunition—was overrun. Smith then withdrew under heavy fire and avoided being captured. Smith was later awarded the Military Cross.^{[17] [18]} A few days later, on July 24, 1944, another company from the FMR, under Major J.A. Dextraze, seized Troteval Farm and held it.^[19]

On the morning of July 25, Smith was a FOO with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry during an attack on Verriéres village. As he advanced through a grain field, in dim pre-dawn light, his Universal Carrier—a small, light-tracked armoured vehicle commonly called a "Bren gun carrier"—detonated a German anti-tank mine. Smith's driver was instantly killed. Despite a lining of sandbags in the bottom of the Carrier, Smith's right leg was badly shattered and he was thrown high into the air and out of the vehicle.^[20] At least four enemy machine guns began firing at the area where the flash of the exploding mine had been seen. Smith and his two signallers crawled away through the grain field, with machine gun bullets being shot all around. One of the bullets ricocheted off the ground and hit Smith in the side of his head, embedding itself behind his right ear.^[21] Smith was evacuated from the war zone and ultimately repatriated to Canada in November 1944.

After spending several months in hospitals in France, the UK and Canada, Smith began a staff job at Kingston. In relatively short order, as a result of the lingering effects of his injuries, he was medically discharged from the army.^[22] Years later Smith speculated that he may be lucky to have been wounded, as the chances were high that he would have been killed had he remained in action.^[23]

In addition to having won the Military Cross for gallantry, Smith received several service medals to recognize his war service: the 1939–1945 Star; the France and Germany Star; the Defence Medal; the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with overseas bar; and the War Medal 1939–1945. In 2014, the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Normandy, Smith's wartime service was further recognized when France awarded him its ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (National Order of the Legion of Honour).^{[24] [25]}

Following the war, in 1948, Smith joined an infantry reserve unit in Kingston, the Princess of Wales' Own Regiment (PWOR), in which he served as a company commander until 1954.^[26] He later served as the PWOR's Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel from 1968 to 1974, as the Honorary Colonel from 1974 to 1985 and again from 1992 to 1995.^[27]

Legal career

Following his service in World War II, Smith in 1945 began to work toward becoming a lawyer. In Ontario at that time, prospective lawyers went through a three-year bar admission process, involving "articling" (in effect, apprenticing) at a law firm while also taking some courses part-time at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto.^[28] Smith completed this process in 1948 and was admitted to Ontario's legal profession as a barrister and solicitor. Several years later, he was granted a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree; this degree was retroactively offered in 1991 to persons who had graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in the years before it became a degree-granting institution.^{[29] [30] [31]} After becoming a lawyer in 1948, Smith established a law office in Kingston and practised for 50 years.

Real estate career

Early in his legal career, Smith began to dabble as a hobby in residential development and rentals. In 1954, Smith founded Homestead Land Holdings Limited, a land development, construction and residential rental company. Smith built Homestead into one of the largest residential rental companies in all of Canada, ultimately owning and marketing over 27,000 rental units in 16 cities across eastern, central and western Ontario and in Calgary, Alberta.^{[32] [33] [34]}

Historical writing

Smith produced two books and a journal article, all on historical subjects.^{[35] [36] [37]}

Community service and philanthropy

Smith had a recognized record of community service and philanthropy. The award of the Order of Ontario (2018) to Smith was in recognition of his community service, including his philanthropy.^{[38] [39]} Similarly, community service and philanthropy figured prominently in Smith being made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2019. The citation for this award reads:^[40]

Throughout his lifetime, Britton Smith has demonstrated exemplary qualities of leadership and vision. A native of Kingston, Ontario, he practiced law before developing one of the most successful rental organizations in the country. Esteemed for his philanthropy, he has helped grow his community through generous donations from his eponymous foundation, benefiting the social, economic and cultural fabric of the city. A decorated Second World War soldier and recipient of the Military Cross, he is also a passionate local historian and has written extensively on HMS Ontario, a military brig lost in 1780.

Community service

Smith held a number of community appointments along with his work. The following is a partial list of Smith's volunteer and community service:

• Honorary Colonel, The Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment, 1974–85 and 1992–95^[41]
• President of The Royal Military College Club of Canada, 1983–84^[42]
• Executive member of The Royal Military College Club of Canada, 1957–83
• Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel, The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment, 1968–74^[43]
• Chairman of Kingston's United Way charitable fundraising campaign, 1967
• Alderman (i.e. elected councillor) on Kingston City Council, serving for three terms, 1949–55

Philanthropy

Smith, personally as well as through his charitable foundation (the Britton Smith Foundation) and his closely held corporation (Homestead Land Holdings Limited), donated money to numerous charities and community projects.

• A gift of $3.2 million was made to the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes in 2019 to enable it to purchase a site on the waterfront in downtown Kingston.^[44]
• A $10,000 matching donation was made to the 2019 annual campaign of the Seniors Association Kingston Region.^[45]
• A donation of $300,000 was made to Nanny Angel Network.^[46]
• A gift of $4.5 million in 2018 to Hospice Kingston toward the building of a hospice residence and palliative care centre was made.^[47]
• A gift of $5 million was made to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation in 2018 toward building a new Providence Manor long-term care facility in Kingston.^{[48] [49]}
• A gift to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation was made in 2018 to support the purchase of a robot-assisted surgical system for the Kingston Health Sciences Centre.^[50]
• A gift in 2017–18 to fund, through the RMC Foundation, the purchase of 1400 "Universal Pattern" pith helmets for the Royal Military College of Canada and the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean, enabling the Colleges to return to the tradition of every cadet wearing such a helmet at full-dress ceremonial parades.^[51]
• Donations totaling more than $1 million to the RMC Foundation to support activities beyond the mandate of the Canadian Armed Forces at the Canadian Military Colleges.^[52]
• A gift of $1.125 million was made to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in 2017 to support various projects including work on the recreation hall at the CNIB's Lake Joseph Centre (an accessible camp in Muskoka, Ontario), the redevelopment of CNIB facilities in Kingston and Ottawa and new programs in eastern Ontario.^{[53] [54]}
• A gift of $700,000 in 2017 to support the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston & Area.^[55]
• A gift of $10 million to Queen's University in 2014. Of this, $4.5 million was for the School of Nursing, $4.5 million for the Department of Surgery and $1 million for upgrading Richardson Stadium.^{[56] [57]}
• A gift of $3 million in 2016 to St. Lawrence College.^{[58] [59]}
• A gift of $1.2 million in 2016 through the United Way.^{[60] [61]}
• A gift of $3 million was made to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation in 2015 toward the purchase of a second magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine for the Kingston General Hospital site of Kingston Health Sciences Centre.^{[62] [63]}
• A donation of $2 million in 2007 to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation to support the redevelopment of Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Continuing Care Centre.
• A gift of $200,000 in 2007 to the campaign to raise funds to build a civic sports and entertainment centre in Kingston.
• He constructed, through his company, Homestead Land Holdings Limited, in 1979, a new entranceway to the grounds of the Royal Military College of Canada and donated much of the cost of the project.^[64]

Personal life

In 1944, a few days after arriving home from the war and while still recovering from his wounds, Smith married his fiancée of four years, Edith Burpee (“Sally”) Carruthers of Kingston. They raised three children: Sheila, Britton and Alexander.^[65] The couple was together for 68 years before Sally died of cancer in 2012.^[66]

Over the years, Smith's hobbies and pastimes included boating, hunting, fishing, tennis, horseback riding, breeding Arabian horses, raising Aberdeen cattle, and collecting old books.^{[67] [68]}

Smith turned 100 in May 2020^[69] and died in Kingston on October 28, 2023, at the age of 103.^{[70] [71]}

List of honours and awards

Orders, decorations and medals

• Member of the Order of Canada (CM) (2019), awarded to Smith for his leadership^{[72] [73] [74] [75]}
• Order of Ontario (OOnt) (2018), awarded to Smith for his community service^{[76] [77]}
• Military Cross (MC) (1944), for his action against the enemy^[78]
• 1939–1945 Star
• France and Germany Star
• Defence Medal
• Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas bar
• War Medal 1939–1945
• 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal (1992)
• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
• Efficiency Medal
• Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD), with one clasp
• Chevalier dans l'Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (France) (2014)^{[79] [80]}

Other honours and awards

• Queen's Counsel (QC) (Ontario) (1958)^{[81] [82]}
• Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), Royal Military College of Canada (1989)^[83]
• Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario (2009)^[84]
• Wall of Honour, Royal Military College of Canada (2017)^{[85] [86] [87]}
• Honorary President, Royal Military Colleges Club of Canada (2015).^{[88] [89]}
• Honorary Colonel's Commendation, The Princess of Wales' Regiment.^[90]
• Lifetime Honorary Membership in the Royal Military Colleges Club of Canada (2009).^[91]
• Honorary Patron of the United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington
• Kingston Business Hall of Fame (2006) (inaugural inductee)^[92]
• Jim Bennett Award, Queen's University Alumni Association (2003)^[93]
• Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Club of Kingston (1993)^[94]
• Kingston Chamber of Commerce's Business Person of the Year (1990)^[95]

External links

• H2652 Honorary Colonel Britton Smith, CM, MC, CD, LH, QC, LLD, Royal Military College of Canada.

Notes and References

1. Book: Who's Who in Ontario: A biographical record of the men and women of our time, 1995–99 . 1999 . B & C List (1982) Ltd (sponsored by The Ontario Genealogical Society) . Vancouver, BC . 1077 . Premiere.
2. Smith . A. Britton . A FOO at Troteval Farm: 20–21 July 1944 . Canadian Military History Journal . 2005 . 14 . 4 . 74 [Biographical sketch in the sidebar] . 15 September 2020.
3. Web site: Past Programs : Introductory notes to A. Britton Smith, 9 May 2019, Battle of Troteval Farm . Canadian Club of Kingston . 15 September 2020.
4. News: Postovit. Mike. Homestead founder, Kingston philantrhropist Britton 'Brit' Smith celebrates 100th Birthday [at 1:06–1:30] ]. 25 August 2020 . Global News. Global News (TV). 14 May 2020.
5. Book: Blackburn . George G. . The Guns of Normandy: A Soldier's Eye View, 1944 . 1995 . McCelland & Stewart . 73–77, 83, 181–84, 190–93, 244–50.
6. Web site: Jordan . Arthur . Senior Colonel of the Regiment "A. Britton Smith" Admitted to the Order of Canada . Princess of Wales' Own Regiment . 28 August 2020.
7. Web site: Arthur Britton Smith . The Canada Veterans Hall of Valour . 28 August 2020.
8. Smith . A. Britton . A FOO at Troteval Farm: 20–21 July 1944 . Canadian Military History . 2005 . 14 . 4 . 67–74 . 30 August 2020.
9. Book: Blackburn . George G. . The Guns of Normandy: A Soldier's Eye View, France 1944 . 1995 . McCelland & Stewart Inc. . Toronto . 72.
10. Book: Blackburn . George G. . The Guns of Normandy: A Soldier's Eye View, France 1944 . 1995 . McCelland & Stewart Inc. . Toronto . 73.
11. Smith . A. Britton . A FOO at Troteval Farm: 20–21 July 1944 . Canadian Military History . 2005 . 14 . 4 . 68 . 10 September 2020.
12. Book: Blackburn . George G. . The Guns of Normandy: A Soldier's Eye View, France 1944 . 1995 . McCelland & Stewart Inc. . Toronto . 183.
13. Book: Blackburn . George G. . The Guns of Normandy: A Soldier's Eye View, France 1944 . 1995 . McCelland & Stewart Inc. . Toronto . 183.
14. Smith . A. Britton . A FOO at Troteval Farm: 20–21 July 1944 . Canadian Military History . 2005 . 14 . 4 . 68 . 10 September 2020.
15. Smith . A. Britton . A FOO at Troteval Farm: 20–21 July 1944 . Canadian Military History . 2005 . 14 . 4 . 74 (MC citation in sidebar) . 10 September 2020.
16. Book: Blackburn . George G. . The Guns of Normandy: A Soldier's Eye View, France 1944 . 1995 . McCelland & Stewart Inc. . Toronto . 190.
17. News: Awards of the Military Cross . 9 September 2020 . Second Supplement to the London Gazette, p. 5861 . His Majesty's Stationery Office . 21 December 1941.
18. Smith . A. Britton . A FOO at Troteval Farm: 20–21 July 1944 . Canadian Military History . 2005 . 14 . 4 . 74 (sidebar note) . 9 September 2020.
19. Dextraze . Jacques . 'A' Company on Attack on Troteval Farm by the Fusiliers Mont-Royal on 24 July 1944 . Canadian Military History . 2011 . 20 . 3 . 63–67. 8 September 2020. Note: In the years after the war, Dextraze rose to the rank of general and served as Chief of Defence Staff during 1972–77.
20. Book: Blackburn . George A. . The Guns of Normandy: A Soldier's Eye View, France 1944 . 1995 . McCelland & Stewart Inc. . Toronto . 247–50.
21. Web site: Smith . Arthur Britton . Heroes Rembember: Verriere Ridge . Veterans Affairs Canada . 27 February 2019 . Government of Canada . 17 September 2020.
22. Web site: Episode 2: Britt Smith, Founder & Executive Chairman of Homestead Land Holdings Ltd. (2017) [1:03 – 1:30] ]. The Building People Show . 17 May 2017 . 18 September 2020.
23. Web site: Smith . Arthur Britton . Heroes Remember: Value of History . Veterans Affairs Canada . 27 February 2019 . Government of Canada . 17 September 2020.
24. Web site: Awards to Canadians . Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 148, No. 20, 17 May 2017 . 17 May 2014 . Government of Canada . 9 September 2020 . Part I, Vol. 148, No. 20.
25. News: Yanagisawa . Sue . Kingstonians being honoured by France . 9 September 2020 . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 13 May 2014.
26. Web site: Jordan . Arthur . Senior Colonel of the Regiment 'A. Britton Smith' admitted to the Order of Canada . The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment Foundation . 17 September 2020.
27. Web site: Honorary Appointments . The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment Foundation . 8 September 2020.
28. Web site: Brief History of the Law School . University of Toronto, Faculty of Law . 16 September 2020.
29. Book: Who's Who in Ontario: A biographical record of the men and women of our time, 1995–1999 . 1999 . B & C List (1982) Ltd. (sponsored by The Ontario Genealogical Society) . Vancouver, BC . 1077 . Premiere.
30. Web site: The Law Society of Ontario in context: a chronology [1991 entry] ]. Law Society of Ontario . 12 September 2020.
31. Web site: History – Osgoode Hall Law School [1991 slide] ]. Osgoode Hall Law School, York University . 16 September 2020.
32. Web site: About Homestead . Homestead Land Holdings Limited . 16 September 2020.
33. Web site: Recipients' Citations . Governor General to Invest 37 Recipients into the Order of Canada During a Ceremony at Rideau Hall . The Governor General of Canada . 3 September 2019 . Government of Canada . 29 September 2020.
34. Web site: H2652 Honorary Colonel A. Britton Smith, CM, MC, CD, LH, QC, LLD . Royal Military College of Canada . 12 September 2017 . Government of Canada (at §4).
35. Book: Smith, Arthur Britton. Kingston! Oh Kingston!: an anthology. 1987. Brown & Martin. 978-0-9692903-0-8. Kingston. English. 865191984.
36. Book: Smith, Arthur Britton. Legend of the lake: the 22-gun brig-sloop Ontario, 1780. 1997. Quarry Press. 978-1-55082-186-4. Kingston. English. 40744157.
37. Smith. Arthur Britton. 16 April 2012. A FOO at Troteval Farm: 20–21 July 1944. Canadian Military History. 14. 4. 67–74. Wilfrid Laurier University.
38. Web site: Order of Ontario Members . The Order of Ontario . Province of Ontario . 25 January 2021.
39. News: Kingston's Brit Smith receives Ontario's highest honour . 25 January 2021 . The Kingston Whig-Standard . February 27, 2020.
40. Web site: Honours . Governor General of Canada . Government of Canada . 25 January 2021.
41. Web site: Honorary Appointments . Princess of Wales' Own Regiment Foundation . 25 August 2020.
42. Web site: Past Presidents . RMC Club of Canada . 25 August 2020.
43. Web site: Honorary Appointments . Princess of Wales' Own Regiment Foundation . 25 August 2020.
44. News: Ladan . Mark . Homestead founder opens up about purchase of Kingston dry dock . 28 August 2020 . Global News . 23 August 2019.
45. Web site: Thank you to all that made our 2019 Annual Campaign a SUCCESS . . . . Seniors Association Kingston Region . 14 September 2020.
46. Web site: Kingston welcomes Nanny Angel Network . Kingstonist News. February 2019.
47. News: MacAlpine . Ian . Donation pushes Hospice Kingston capital campaign near its goal . 28 August 2020 . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 14 September 2018.
48. News: Pearce . Nick . Philanthropist, Sisters of Providence give $9.5 million for long-term care facility . 28 August 2020 . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 28 June 2018.
49. News: Postovit . Mike . Providence Manor project receives multi-million dollar donations . 28 August 2020 . Global News . 28 June 2018.
50. Web site: Kingston Health Sciences Centre Launches New Robot-Assisted Surgical Program . Latest News . 9 April 2019 . University Hospitals Kingston Foundation . 25 August 2020 . 9 April 2019.
51. Web site: Shewfelt . Anna-Michelle . Pith Helmets Have Arrived Thanks to Generous Donation by 2652 Britt Smith . eVeritas . RMC Clubs of Canada . 25 August 2020.
52. Web site: Lifetime Giving Circles . RMC Foundation . 26 August 2020 . 13 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200813020010/https://rmcfoundation.ca/lifetime-giving-circles/#board-governors . dead .
53. Web site: Veteran and important donor . CNIB Foundation.
54. News: Smith gives CNIB $1.125M donation . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 24 May 2017.
55. News: Kingston company donates$700K to support the local Boys and Girls Club . 27 August 2020 . Global News . 1 September 2017.
56. News: Britton Smith makes $10 million donation to Queen's University . 26 August 2020 . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 12 September 2014.
57. Cuthbertson . Ken . Spotlight on Philanthropy: Britt Smith . Queen's Alumni Review . 2014 .
    1. 4
    . 26 August 2020.
58. News: Crosier . Steph . College Receives $3M from Philanthropist . 26 August 2020 . The Kingston Whig-Standard (28 Oct 2016).
59. Web site: St. Lawrence College Receives Largest Donation in its History (28 Oct 2016) . St. Lawrence College.
60. News: MacAlpine . Ian . Philanthropist donates $1.2M for homeless youth facility . 26 August 2020 . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 2 March 2016.
61. Web site: Kukucska . Nick . United Way KFLA Receives Biggest Donation in Organization's History to Combat Youth Homelessness in Kingston (17 March 2016) . United Way of KFLA. 17 March 2016 .
62. News: McKay . Julia . Smith pledges $3M for MRI (11 Aug 2015) . 26 August 2020 . The Kingston Whig-Standard.
63. Web site: Kingston Health Sciences Centre officially opens second MRI (13 June 2019) . Kingston Health Sciences Centre . 13 June 2019 . 26 August 2020.
64. News: Murray . Ed . RMC Traditions and History – The Memorial Arch . 28 August 2020 . eVeritas . The RMC Club of Canada and RMC Foundation . 21 September 2009.
65. Book: Who's Who in Ontario: A biographical record of the men and women of our time, 1995–1999. 1999. B & C List (1982) Ltd. (sponsored by The Ontario Genealogical Society). Premiere. Vancouver, BC. 1077.
66. News: 3 July 2012. Obiturary: Edith Burpee Carruthers "Sally" Smith. The Kingston Whig-Standard. 26 August 2020.
67. Web site: Past Programs: Introductory notes to A. Britton Smith, 9 May 2019, Battle of Troteval Farm. 15 September 2020. Canadian Club of Kingston.
68. Book: Who's Who in Ontario: A biographical record of the men and women of our time, 1995–1999. 1999. B & C List (1982) Ltd. (sponsored by The Ontario Genealogical Society). Premiere. Vancouver, BC. 1077.
69. News: Postovit. Mike. 14 May 2020. Homestead founder, Kingston philantrhropist Britton 'Brit' Smith celebrates 100th Birthday. Global News (TV). Global News. 25 August 2020.
70. News: Ferguson . Elliot . Soldier, lawyer, businessman, philanthropist: Britton Smith remembered . 30 October 2023 . The Kingston Whig Standard . 30 October 2023.
71. News: In Loving Memory of Arthur Britton Smith . 30 October 2023 . The Kingstonist . 30 October 2023.
72. Web site: Governor General to invest 37 recipients into the Order of Canada during a ceremony at Rideau Hall . The Governor General of Canada . 3 September 2019 . Government of Canada . 26 August 2020 . 3 Sep 2019.
73. News: MacAlpine . Ian . Kingston's A. Britton Smith member of Order of Canada . 26 August 2020 . The Kingston Whig Standard . 3 July 2019.
74. News: Shewfelt . Anna-Michelle . 2652 Brit Smith Appointed as a member of the Order of Canada . 26 August 2020 . eVeritas . RMC Club of Canada . 8 July 2019.
75. Web site: Mr. A. Britton Smith . . 31 October 2023.
76. Web site: Order of Ontario . Honours and Awards . Government of Ontario.
77. Web site: Backgrounder: The 2018 Appointees to the Order of Ontario . Ontario Newsroom . Government of Ontario . 26 August 2020.
78. News: Awards of the Military Cross . 26 August 2020 . Second Supplement to the London Gazette, p. 5861 . His Majesty's Stationery Office . 21 Dec 1944.
79. Web site: Awards to Canadians . Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 148, No. 20, 17 May 2017 . 17 May 2014 . Government of Canada . 25 August 2020 . Part I, Vol. 148, No. 20; 17 May 2017.
80. News: Yanagisawa . Sue . Kingstonians being honoured by France . 27 August 2020 . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 13 May 2014.
81. Ontario QCs Named . Globe and Mail . January 1, 1959 . Page 8.
82. Book: Who's Who in Ontario: A biographical record of the men and women of our time, 1995–1999 . 1999 . B & C List (1982) Ltd. (sponsored by The Ontario Genealogical Society) . Vancouver, BC . 1077 . Premiere.
83. Web site: Royal Military College of Canada Honorary Degree Recipients . Royal Military College of Canada . 19 July 2016 . Government of Canada . 12 September 2020.
84. Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients, 2008 to 2010 . Office of the University Registrar, Queen's University . 26 August 2020.
85. Web site: Crosier . Steph . 'I love this college,' Smith says of RMC . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 26 August 2020 . 1 Oct 2017.
86. News: Shewfelt . Anna-Michelle . Len Lee & Britt Smith added to the WoH: Big Time Event . 26 August 2020 . eVeritas . RMC Club of Canada . 1 Oct 2017.
87. Web site: RMC Wall of Honour Citations . Royal Military College of Canada . 23 March 2015 . Government of Canada . 12 September 2020.
88. News: Shewfelt . Anna-Michelle . New Honorary Club President – H2652 Colonel A.B. Smith . 28 August 2020 . eVeritas . RMC Club of Canada & RMC Foundation . 3 August 2015.
89. Web site: Patrons & Honoraries . RMC Club of Canada . 14 September 2020.
90. Web site: Honorary Colonels' Commendations . The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment Foundation . 8 September 2020.
91. News: WJO . Two Giants Granted Honorary Status . 28 August 2020 . eVeritas . RMC Club of Canada & RMC Foundation . 6 December 2009.
92. News: MacAlpine . Ian . Kingston's A. Britton Smith member of the Order of Canada [para. 7] ]. 11 September 2020 . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 3 July 2019.
93. Web site: Jim Bennett Award (Kingston Branch) . Queen's Alumni . Queen's University . 26 August 2020.
94. Web site: Paul Harris Fellows . Rotary Club of Kingston . 26 August 2020.
95. News: MacAlpine . Ian . Kingston's A. Britton Smith member of Order of Canada [para. 7]]. 11 September 2020 . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 3 July 2019.