Then came the declaration of the war and Hugh was posted to the HMS Implacable, a British aircraft carrier — a 20-year-old pilot who left behind the love of his life, May Stirton. Hugh Smith fought in the Sea of Japan, towards the end of the Second World War, and survived his tour of duty. In another “Canadian Moment”, the HMS Implacable was involved in returning Canadian, Australian and British former prisoners-of-war, arriving in Vancouver harbour in early 1946 before returning to Melbourne, Australia.