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The High Seas Fleet (Hochseeflotte) was the battle fleet of the German Imperial Navy and saw action during the First World War. The formation was created in February 1907, when the Home Fleet (Heimatflotte) was renamed as the High Seas Fleet. In 1918, The High Seas Fleet was interned in Scapa Flow under the terms of the Armistice. It remained manned by reduced crews who successfully scuttled its ships in June 1919 when it was thought that the British intended to seize the fleet.

Walter Hichens-Smith was born in Seattle and signed up as a machinist's apprentice with the B.C. Marine Railway in 1908, completing his apprenticeship in 1913. During these years he also worked as a junior engineer in the survey ship Lillooet and later transferred to the Estevan. From 1917 to 1926 Hichens-Smith was as engineer on the derrick scow at Yarrows Ltd. Thereafter, he worked on several salvage vessels, eventually as Chief Engineer, and was involved in notable jobs including salvage operations on the wreck of SS Princess Sophia.

During World War II, Hichens-Smith was commissioned in the Royal Canadian Navy, eventually gaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He served for three years with naval Control in Halifax as a trouble shooter for all merchant ships sailing in convoy out of that port. He then served as E.O. of the frigate Glace Bay. After the war, he returned to the salvage business, was in deep-sea vessels for a period starting in 1948, but finally served with Island Tug and Barge as Chief Engineer of Sudbury.