When Conn Smythe passed away on November 18, 1980, he was widely remembered as the legendary owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the visionary behind Maple Leaf Gardens. Yet, Smythe’s legacy extended far beyond hockey; he had also served his country with distinction in two world wars.
A week after winning the Ontario Hockey Association championship in March 1915, Smythe and his University of Toronto hockey teammates enlisted to serve in World War I. On July 17, 1915, he was commissioned as a provisional Lieutenant in the 2nd (Ottawa) Battery, 8th Brigade, and began training at the Royal School of Artillery in Kingston.
Following his training, Smythe was transferred to the 40th (Sportsmen’s) Battery, which was deployed overseas in February 1916. He would see action at Ypres, the Somme, and Vimy Ridge, distinguishing himself on the battlefield. Smythe earned two Military Crosses: the first, in February 1917, for charging into combat, killing several enemy soldiers, and rescuing wounded Canadian troops; the second, in March, for dispersing an enemy party with his revolver.
Frustrated with his superiors in the battery, Smythe transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in July 1917, serving as an airborne observer, directing artillery fire during the offensive at Passchendaele. In October 1917, he was shot down and captured by German forces. Despite multiple escape attempts, Smythe remained a prisoner of war until the end of hostilities.
Between the wars, Smythe turned his attention to hockey and horse racing, establishing the Toronto Maple Leafs and gaining a reputation as a savvy businessman and sports promoter.
When World War II erupted, Smythe once again answered his country’s call. Initially serving as a captain in the Canadian Officers’ Training Corps, he then co-founded the 30th Battery, an anti-aircraft unit, alongside Colonel Richard Greer, and took command as Major Smythe.
The battery was first deployed on Vancouver Island to guard against a possible Japanese attack, before moving to England in September 1942. Two years later, in July 1944, Smythe and his unit were sent to France. Just weeks after their arrival, a German bombing raid struck a nearby ammunition depot, and Smythe was severely wounded, necessitating his return to Canada in September.
Through war and peace, Smythe demonstrated courage, leadership, and dedication—qualities that defined both his military service and his lasting impact on Canadian sports and culture.
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