Waldo Edward Lovel Smith MC MA DD PhD was born in Toronto, son of Harold T. Smith and Charlotte (Morry) Smith. He graduated from Victoria College, University of Toronto, followed by post graduate studies at the University of Chicago, St. Andrews University, University of London (England), and Edinburgh University.

He was ordained in the United Church of Canada and served as Minister in Selby and Grafton in eastern Ontario.

In 1940 he was commissioned as Chaplain in the Canadian Army and in June 1941, landed in the UK. Reverend Smith took part in the disastrous August 19, 1942 attack on the French port of Dieppe. Of the 4,963 Canadians that took part in the attack, only 2,210 returned to England, many of them wounded. Among the 3,367 casualties, 1946 were taken prisoner and 907 lost their lives.

Reverend Chaplain Smith was one of those who survived. His experiences in this action is recounted in his book What Time The Tempest, which is a deeply moving story of his years as an Army padre (1940-45). Earl Mountbatten who authorized the Dieppe raid said it gave the Allies the "priceless secret of victory".

The Allied invasion of Sicily took place on July 10, 1943 and by August 18, 1943, the Sicilian Campaign was over. As a result of the Allied landings in Sicily, Benito Mussolini was overthrown and the new Italian government chose peace rather than continue fighting the Allies.

On September 3, 1943, Canadians as part of the British Eighth Army, crossed the Straits of Messina from Sicily and landed on the mainland in southern Italy. The Canadians soon faced stiff resistance from the Germans. The conditions under which the troops had to exist were horrific. Besides the near constant terror of being hit by incoming shells, there was prolonged lack of sleep, weakness from dysentry and the mental anguish from the sudden and gruesome deaths of close friends.

Chaplain Smith was working with the Regimental Medical Officer, when the tanks of his regiment went forward into the battle at Colle d’Anchise on October 23, 1943. A crossing being constructed by engineers for the tanks came under heavy enemy fire and the engineers suffered many casualties. Although it was not part of his duty to do so, and without thought of personal safety, Smith went forward under direct enemy fire and observation, to administer first aid and comfort and help in the evacuation of the wounded. His conduct was an outstanding example of gallantry and courage far beyond the bounds of duty. For his courage and gallantry he was awarded the Military Cross (MC).

On his discharge from the Army Reverend Smith resumed his ministry in Grafton, prior to his appointment in 1947 as professor of Church History and Practical Theology in Queen’s Theological College at Queen’s University, Kingston, where he earned the respect of students and colleagues, as a gifted, dedicated teacher and discerning researcher.

He married Christina Stirling Ross and they had four children; Charlotte, Anne, David and Harold.