Claude Eustace Bellsmith, born October 12, 1916 at New Westminster, British Columbia, lived in Oakland, California USA for seven years before returning to Canada. After completing his education at Earl Haig Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Bellsmith enlisted at London, Ontario October 19, 1939. Bellsmith served with the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps attached to The Royal Canadian Regiment (Pro Patria) as a Corporal during the Second World War. Part of the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division, the regiment landed at Pachino in July 1943 during the invasion of Sicily. In Italy by September, it advanced north moving into the Moro River valley by December 1943. On December 20, 1943, Corporal Claude Eustace Bellsmith died during heavy, street fighting at Ortona against the German Fallschirmjäger paratroops. Bellsmith is commemorated at Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, Ortona, Italy. Son of John Eustace and Francis Helen (nee Vickery) Bellsmith; brother of John Victor Bellsmith of Oakland and Alexa “Peggy” Eustina Bellsmith of Brampton, Ontario; husband of Mildred Etta (nee Martin) Bellsmith of Listowel, Ontario and father of Wayne James Bellsmith of Listowel; he was 27 years old. Citation(s): 1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp. The City of London, Ontario named Bellsmith Court in the subdivision of Summerside in Bellsmith’s honour. “O for the touch of a vanished hand, and the sound of a voice that is still.” – Alfred Lord Tennyson