Alfred Gladsone SMETHURST was born on February 28, 1888 (Attestation papers), at Victoria, BC.  His gravestone states February 3, 1900.

In 1915 (Age 15), he joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a “Bugle Boy”.

On May 20, 1916 he enlisted with the 2nd Canadian Rifles and fought on the battlefileds in France.

After the war, Alfred enjoted a 42 year carreer with the Vancouver Fire Department.  The Fire Department dedicated a bench in Stanley Park, Vancouver, in his honour.

Plaque Inscription: “Alfred G. Smethurst: February 1900 - April 2002. Vancouver’s Longest Surviving Fire Fighter. 'Gone But Not Forgotten' Vancouver Fire Fighters Past and Present... Who enjoyed Stanley Park for many years.”

Alfred SMETHURST died on April 21, 2002 (102) and is buried in the Pacific Hertigate Cememtery in Burnaby, BC.