Major Stanton Sutherland Smaill

Stanton Sutherland Smaill, known as Stantie, was born at Huntingdon, Quebec, on 25 August 1911, the son of John Smaill and Mary Sutherland. He graduated from Huntingdon Academy in 1929 and worked in a bank before studying at McGill University. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1937, winning the Montreal Dental Club gold medal and the College of Dental Surgeons of the Province of Quebec prize for first-rank standing. After an internship at Montreal General and Children's Memorial Hospitals, he practised dentistry in Montreal, taught at McGill and served on Montreal General's attending staff. Smaill received a reserve commission in the Canadian Dental Corps in January 1942 and began active service at Montreal on 9 March as Lieutenant and Acting Captain. With No. 39 Company, he worked at No. 1 Dental Clinic, No. 1 Wireless School, Montreal, and then No. 2 Dental Clinic at the RCAF's Uplands training station. He completed the Common to All Arms Course at Camp Borden and became Captain on 28 November 1942. In July 1943 he joined No. 50 Company, Canadian Dental Corps (Navy), at Halifax. His dental duties took him to naval establishments including HMCS Protector, HMCS Chaleur and HMCS St. Hyacinthe, where he worked at No. 10 Dental Clinic. He remained an Army officer throughout these attachments and served entirely in Canada. He also attended a periodontology course at the Canadian Dental Corps Technical Training Centre, Toronto, in September 1944. Described as reliable, professionally able and dependable, he became Acting Major on 18 October 1944 and was confirmed as Major effective 21 September 1945, with seniority from the earlier date. Recurring migraines required hospital investigation and restricted him to duty in Canada. In November 1945 he underwent removal of a left-wrist ganglion at the Royal Canadian Naval Hospital, Halifax. Meanwhile, McGill sought his help teaching anatomy to dental students, including returning veterans. He accepted long-term leave without pay from December 1945 and returned to reserve status on 31 January 1946. His awards included the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and War Medal 1939–1945; he was recorded as eligible for General Service War Service Badge 871543. Smaill resumed his Montreal dental practice at the Drummond Medical Building and retired in 1981. In May 1949 he married Pauline Frances Beaton at Huntingdon. They had three sons, Stanton, Stephen and Douglas. His sister Aileen Crawford predeceased him. Stanton Sutherland Smaill died at Montreal General Hospital on 15 June 1986, aged 74, after a lengthy illness. His funeral was held at Kelly Funeral Home Chapel, Huntingdon, on 17 June, with the Rev. Gordon Bannerman officiating. He was buried in the Smaill family plot at Huntingdon Protestant Cemetery.

1911-08-25 — Born Stanton Sutherland Smaill, son of John Smaill and Mary Sutherland; known as Stantie; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1918 to 1929 — Attended Huntingdon Academy, obtaining matriculation; obituary dates high-school graduation to 1929; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1930 — Worked as a bank clerk for approximately one year before university; Quebec.
1930 to 1937 — Studied at McGill University, earning DDS in 1937; won Montreal Dental Club gold medal and College of Dental Surgeons of the Province of Quebec prize for first-rank standing; Montreal, Quebec.
1937 to 1938 — Completed one-year general internship at Montreal General and Children's Memorial Hospitals after dental graduation; Montreal, Quebec.
1938 to 1942 — Self-employed dentist; also taught at McGill and served on attending staff of Montreal General Hospital; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-01-09 — Pre-service medical examination, fit Category A after cardiac consultation found normal heart; height 67 inches, weight 170 pounds, chest 38.5 inches expanded with 2.5 inches expansion; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-01-15 to 1942-01-16 — Signed willingness for active service; Reserve General List Canadian Dental Corps Lieutenant appointment effective 16 January. College of Dental Surgeons certified good standing; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-01-23 — Army Headquarters authorized active appointment from date of reporting; proposed early-March reporting did not establish actual service commencement; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-03-09 — Appointed Lieutenant and Acting Captain, Canadian Dental Corps, Canadian Army Active; dental operator, No. 39 Company, attached to No. 3 Training Command RCAF; posted No. 1 Dental Clinic for duty at No. 1 Wireless School; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-05-13 to 1942-06-04 — Proposed officer-training vacancies were unavailable because of accommodation shortages; no attendance at proposed May or June Brockville course established; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-05-18 — Posted from No. 1 Dental Clinic to No. 2 Dental Clinic for duty at No. 2 Service Flying Training School; Uplands, Ontario.
1942-06-26 to 1942-07 — Staphylococcus inoculation series recorded in connection with recurrent boils; individual dose dates vary in copies; Uplands, Ontario.
1942-06-29 to 1942-07-01 — Hospitalized for furuncles of both arms; improved and discharged with further Staph toxoid treatment planned; No. 2 SFTS Station Hospital, Uplands, Ontario.
1942-09-01 to 1942-09-03 — Admitted to Ottawa Civic Hospital; diagnosis not supplied in the service-ledger entries; Ottawa, Ontario.
1942-10-19 to 1942-11-01 — Annual leave recorded, overlapping subsequent course departure; Canada.
1942-10-29 to 1942-10-30 — Proceeded from RCAF Station Rockcliffe to A-10 CITC, Camp Borden; attached for all purposes except pay for Common to All Arms Course beginning 30 October; Rockcliffe; Camp Borden, Ontario.
1942-11-01 — Assigned $30 monthly to mother Mary Smaill; later index-card proposal was cancelled or non-effective; Canada.
1942-11-28 — Completed Captain qualifying course, ceased Camp Borden attachment and returned to No. 39 Company; promoted Captain effective this date, later confirmed in December; Camp Borden, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec.
1942-11-29 — One day's annual leave; Canada.
1942-12-21 to 1943-01-08 — Dental engine and subsequently its missing wrench returned from No. 2 SFTS to Command Dental Stores, No. 12 Equipment Depot; Uplands, Ontario; Montreal East, Quebec.
1943 — Explosion of unknown origin destroyed his civilian dental office and equipment; Montreal, Quebec.
1943-05-24 to 1943-05-25 — Identification card sent to Dental Clinic, Uplands; receipt acknowledged; Uplands, Ontario.
1943-07-08 — Taken on strength of No. 50 Company, Canadian Dental Corps (Navy), after No. 39 Company strength ended 7 July; attached to No. 26 Company for pay only until 31 August; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1943-09-09 — Qualified for Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and entitled to wear ribbon; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1943-10-08 — Referred for cardiac consultation; subsequent record shows all-ones medical profile; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1943-10-26 to 1943-11-08 — Annual leave; duplicate pay ledger begins 25 October; Canada.
1943-12-03 — Military District No. 6 queried income-tax assignment of $45.45 still showing after July transfer; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1943-12-22 to 1943-12-26 — Christmas leave; Canada.
1943-12-29 to 1944-01-01 — Hospitalized for migraine at Royal Canadian Naval Hospital; left at 1650 on 31 December, formal discharge 1 January; injections relieved attacks. Service ledger records 28–31 December; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1944-01-01 to 1944-01-08 — Eight days' compassionate leave following accidental death of an unnamed special lady friend; Canada.
1944-01-10 to 1944-01-18 — Readmitted for headache investigation; nursing admission 10 January, case history 12 January, final discharge 18 January; service ledger ends 17 January; Royal Canadian Naval Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1944-01-14 to 1944-01-17 — Allergy and eye investigations did not explain migraine; histamine treatment suggested, ergotamine relieved attacks; Royal Canadian Naval Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1944-01-15 — Later medical history records referral to No. 6 District Depot for grading in connection with proposed overseas transfer; overseas movement did not occur; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1944-09-13 to 1944-09-25 — Proceeded on command to Canadian Dental Corps Technical Training Centre; Periodontology Course PE 11, course scheduled 18–25 September and command entry effective 16 September; returned on completion; Toronto, Ontario.
1944-10 to 1944-12 — Annual leave entries differ: main ledger 28 October–15 November including travel, pay copy 26 November–13 December. Both retained as source variants, not two established leave periods; Canada.
1944-10-02 to 1944-10-24 — Recommended as reliable officer with above-average professional ability and administrative potential; approved Acting Major effective 18 October; No. 50 Company, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1944-10-18 — Promoted Acting Major, No. 50 Company, Canadian Dental Corps; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1944-10-25 — Pay ledger records a 96-hour pass, date appears to be 25 October; Canada.
1944-12-31 to 1945-01-04 — Five days' New Year leave; Canada.
1945-01-07 to 1945-01-10 — Temporary duty from HMCS Protector to No. 50 Company Headquarters; departed at 2230 on 7 January and returned at 1000 on 10 January; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1945-01-08 — Medical consultant confirmed migraine and P4 grading; fit for duty in Canada only, without overseas transfer; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1945-04-14 to 1945-04-17 — 96-hour leave and ration allowance; Canada.
1945-04-19 to 1945-04-21 — Ceased attachment to HMCS Protector and proceeded on command at 1900 on 19 April to HMCS Chaleur, Quebec; command ended 1630 on 21 April; Quebec City, Quebec.
1945-07-02 to 1945-07-03 — Fishhook puncture of right index finger assessed at HMCS St. Hyacinthe; advised daily medical review and curtailed operative dental work. X-ray showed no bone damage or retained foreign body; St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
1945-07-11 to 1945-08-06 — Watson Sellar queried early release and lost equipment on family's behalf; Deputy Minister said low priority and continuing dental needs precluded early retirement; Ottawa, Ontario.
1945-08-24 to 1945-09-19 — Recommended for confirmation as Major, described as dependable and faithful; proposed August effective date superseded by headquarters decision; No. 50 Company, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1945-09-21 — Confirmed Major effective 21 September, with seniority from 18 October 1944; approval dated 2 October; No. 50 Company, Canadian Dental Corps.
1945-09-27 — McGill Dean requested Smaill's help teaching anatomy, especially to returned veteran students; Smaill then stationed at St. Hyacinthe; Montreal; St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
1945-10-15 to 1945-11-14 — Retirement initially unavailable; alternatives of university loan or unpaid leave offered. Smaill accepted unpaid leave and McGill teaching work in signed 30 October request from No. 10 Dental Clinic, HMCS St. Hyacinthe; transfer to No. 4 District Depot authorized 14 November; St. Hyacinthe; Montreal, Quebec.
1945-11-05 to 1945-11-18 — Fourteen days' privilege leave in main ledger; pay copy separately corrects four-day pass to 5–8 November; Canada.
1945-11-22 — Attached to HMCS Peregrine for quarters, No. 50 Company retained as parent unit; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1945-11-25 to 1945-12-04 — Hospitalized for left-wrist ganglion; excised 26 November under pentothal, satisfactory recovery. Sutures removed 3 December, clinical return to duty 4 December; strength/ration ledger uses 3 December; Royal Canadian Naval Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1945-12-06 — Taken on strength No. 4 District Depot, Jacques Cartier Barracks, Montreal South, after No. 50 Company strength ended 5 December; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-12-12 to 1946-01-30 — Long-term leave without pay and allowances to take up civilian university work, ending before final paid release day; Montreal, Quebec.
1946-01-04 to 1946-01-09 — Military District No. 4 requested retirement authority based on priority score 76; authority to return to reserve status granted 9 January; Montreal, Quebec.
1946-01-21 to 1946-01-31 — Release medical board and specialist review: recurrent left-wrist ganglion and migraines; P4 profile approved, fit for civilian employment. Further wrist surgery declined at present; DVA treatment advised if needed; No. 4 District Depot, Montreal South, Quebec.
1946-01-31 — Struck off strength Canadian Army Active under KR (Can) 270(a), returned to reserve status as Major; clothing allowance $100 and 30 days' rank pay; intended address 1414 Drummond Street; Montreal South, Quebec.
1946-01-31 — Waived veterans counselling appraisal as unhelpful at present; referred to NES Placement Officer in Montreal; Montreal South, Quebec.
1946-02-14 to 1946-02-20 — Recommendation and approval to remain in existing reserve status; reserve Lieutenant and former active Major distinguished; Montreal; Ottawa, Quebec / Ontario.
1946-02-18 — Gratuity $337.50 for 1375 qualifying days, 45 thirty-day periods; $69.43 pay/allowance overpayment deducted, $268.07 paid in one instalment. Total service 1425 days less 50 unpaid-leave days, overseas nil; Montreal, Quebec.
1946-03-01 — Certificate of service issued and forwarded, confirming 31 January return to reserve status and CVSM; Ottawa; Montreal, Quebec.
1949-05 — Married Pauline Frances Beaton at Huntingdon, as recorded in existing CWVMP profile; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1961-09-14 — Medal card marked UNCLAIMED ISSUED; CVSM and War Medal 1939–1945 listed; Canada.
1981 — Retired from dentistry; postwar practice had been at Drummond Medical Building; Montreal, Quebec.
1986-06-15 — Died at Montreal General Hospital after a lengthy illness, aged 74; survived by wife Pauline Frances Beaton and sons Stanton, Stephen and Douglas; Montreal, Quebec.
1986-06-17 — Funeral at Kelly Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. Gordon Bannerman officiating; burial in Smaill family plot at Huntingdon Protestant Cemetery; Huntingdon, Quebec.