Douglas Robert Smith (Bert Douglas) was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1897, the youngest of a family of eight.

In World War One he served for over four years with the famous Gordon Highlanders.

Following marriage to Laura (Cantlay) in 1920, they immigrated to Toronto, Canada where he was employed in the Motive Power Department of Canadian National Railways until his retirement in 1962.

As his sons, Russell and Donald, were well aware in their childhood and early teens of their father's enthusiasm for and involvement in all things having to do with magic.

Bert Douglas died in Toronto on March 8, 1974.