Rudolph (Rudy) Schmidt

Royal Canadian Air Force

Rudy signed up in the army on November 19, 1941. He was only 20 years old. He was enlisted with the British Columbia Dragoons, an army tank regiment.

He served in Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and North Africa. He was assigned to a tank regiment on the front lines.

From a letter sent home at Christmas time, 1943, Rudy was in North Africa. He makes mention that the people don’t wear shoes there, and also that he was so thrilled to be able to pick oranges from the trees in an orchard not far from where he was stationed. He says the first morning he awoke early at 5:00 a.m. and snuck down the road to the orchard and filled his kit bag. He also mentions in this letter to his parents, that there was lots of dates, figs and lemons.

He goes on to say, that he really didn’t care for the country, but that it was a great experience.

Upon his discharge March 8, 1946, when he returned to civilian life, he married Margaret Bosch, and with the help of the VLA (Veteran’s Land Act) they purchased land south of Smiley, Saskatchewan. Together Rudy and Margaret raised six children on their farm.