Name/Title
Guardsman Smith Comego 814840 - 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) First Nations Warrior and brother of Peter & Smapson Comego, famous CEF SnipersDescription
WW1 CEF War Medal named to Guardsman Smith Comego 814840 of the 87th Battalion CEF, Canadian Grenadier Guards.
Guardsman Smith Comego was one of 5 Comego family members to enlist in the CEF. His two brothers (Sampson and Peter Comego) were renowned CEF Snipers, and both served with distinction in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) with the 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion.
His elder brother, Pte Samson Comego 59192 was chief of the Chippewa Alderville Reserve and served as a cook in the CEF until he demonstrated his shooting skill; he was credited with killing 28 Germans before an incoming rifle grenade took his life. His other brother, Peter, proved to be an equally fine shot. “When [Peter Comego] leveled his rifle’s sights on a man in the enemy’s trench,” one account notes, “that man’s life ceased to be a good insurance risk.” Peter Comego survived the war.
Guardsman Smith Comego was a First Nations soldier of Chippewa heritage. He enlisted with the 139th Battalion on March 10th, 1916. He arrived in the UK and was initially transferred to the 36th Battalion CEF prior to being taken on strength with the 87th Bn CEF Canadian Grenadier Guards on 14th November 1916. He fought with distinction and was wounded on April 11th 1917 during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and later in June 18th was severely wounded when he received a gunshot wound (GSW) to the lower left jaw which resulted in his immediate evacuation to England. He Was treated at the No5 Canadian General Hospital in Liverpool and eventually returned and discharged in Canada on July 31st 1918. Sadly, he passed away due to unknown causes at the age of 29 in Durham Ontario on April 3rd, 1924.Context
Roughly 5% of all First Nation Soldiers in all branches of the CEF served with our 87th Bn (Canadian Grenadier Guards.) Over half became casualties with many more succumbing to their wounds not long after the war.Created By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Create Date
January 13, 2022Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
February 15, 2022
