Context
In 1940 Lt. (Late LCol Commanding) Herschell Allistair (Snuffy) Smith from Dauphin, Manitoba had far fewer expenses than his fellow subalterns, he didn't smoke and insisted on using Lt. Ned Amy's car for recreation. Understandably, this permitted him to build up a healthy bank balance (frequently in three figures), so he invested heavily in a Mido Self Winding Wrist Watch.
Ned's envy of this watch bordered on jealousy. He continually belittled it, saying 'only a nut would spend all day shaking his wrist to keep his watch wound'. That it could ne soaked in a drink losing a second was a feature with little appeal to Ned although he admitted it always looked clean.
In 1943, these two arrived at the Canadian Grenadier Guards in Crowborough Camp. During their infrequent mellow moments, Ned would repeat his wish to have the watch if Snuffy became a casualty. Snuffy favored the idea of being burried with it in spite of Ned's comment that it would stop running shortly thereafter.
The matter surfaced again in 1943 in Normandy under somewhat different circumstances. Majors Hamilton (2 IC), Smith (3 Sqn), Williamson (2 Sqn), Amy (1 Sqn), Carlisle (HQ SQN) and Capt. Smith (Adj.) were assembled in the Ops Van for orders. The Regiment was to test the defenses of LaHogue which task Lt. Col. Halpenny assigned to Snuffy's Sqn while Ned's Sqn was to exploit any success which 3 Sqn might achieve and 'break out'. This was the Regiment's very first operation and element of tension was evident as the CO concluded his orders.
Although Snuffy was told to mount his attack as soon as possible there was a reluctance to conclude the usual question period following orders. Finally, an impatient Snuffy announced 'I have to go and get things organized' and as he left Ned reminded him if he were hit not to break his watch. This was intended to ease tension but had the opposite effect and with Snuffy's response, 'If it's the last thing I do, I'll smash it with my dying breath', tension hit 8 on the Richter Scale.
The discussion over the fate of the watch continued throughout the campaign. The final WW2 episode took place in Germany when Snuffy (now CO) was waiting in his tank to leave the Regiment to the assembly area for its introduction into the battle for the Rhineland. Ned mounted the tank for a last minute chat and when Snuffy received the all clear to move, he reminded him about the watch as he jumped from the tank. The reply shouted over the roar of the tank engine was unequivocal -- 'All smash it on the Cupola'.
Some 12 hours later, Snuffy was badly wounded but fortunately not seriously enough for him to smash the watch. When the war ended he was still shaking his wrist to keep it wound and Ned despaired of ever owning it.
Prior to the 1990 Regimental Reunion in Montreal, he surprisedName/Title
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