Michael Agustine SMITH

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SMITH, Michael Agustine

Service Numbers:	V66555, 145461
Enlisted:	14 April 1941
Last Rank:	Leading Aircraftman
Last Unit:	RAAF Rathmines
Born:	Brighouse, Yorkshire, England, 17 October 1913
Home Town:	St Kilda, Port Phillip, Victoria
Schooling:	Swan Hill High School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation:	Baker and Pastry Cook
Memorials:

World War 2 Service

14 Apr 1941:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V66555, 14 Infantry Battalion AMF
17 Nov 1943:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 145461
20 Sep 1945:	Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 145461, RAAF Rathmines

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Leading Aircraftman Michael Augustine Smith (Service Nos:V66555/145461) initially enlisted in the ACMF on 14 March 1941, and was a Private attached to 14 Battalion VDC when he enlisted in the AIF on 17 November 1943 at No 1 Recruting Centre Melbourne as an Aircraftman I Smith - mustered as Cook. LAC Smith served in the Northern Territory (3 March 1944 to 4 January 1945) with No 1 and No 15 Squadrons, and was attached to Station HQ Rathmines at Discharge on 20 September 1945.

Eldest of four children, Michael was born in Yorkshire, England in 1913 to Harold Waterhouse Smith (b1878 in Yorkshire, England) and Elizabeth Enwright (b1886 in Dublin, Ireland). Harold started working as an Errand Boy in 1891, and was a Baker in 1912 when he and Elizabeth married in Brighouse, Yorkshire. In 1922, Harold and Elizabeth immigrated with their four children, arriving in Fremantle on board the Balranald. Harold worked as a Baker at Swan Hill before settling in St Kilda, Melbourne where he and Elizabeth raised their family and Harold worked as a Baker, running a family business until WWII when his sons (Michael and Peter) took over.

Michael completed a five year Bakery Apprenticeship with Langfrees Ltd and then worked as a Chef at Tattersall Hotel in Mouliemein, New South Wales.When he enlisted in 1941, he had extensive experience working in hotels and sheares' camps, and was a Baker and Pastry Cook in St Kilda, running the family business with his father. Following his Discharge, Michael returned to St Kilda, Melbourne where he ran the family Bakery, and in 1950 in Wondai QLD married Florence Melba McGee (b1928 in Leyburn on the Darling Downs, QLD). Michael and Florence settled in Melbourne, where they raised their family and Michael worked as a Baker, Pastry Cook and Cook. In 1969 the RSL Melbourne wrote to RAAF Records requesting Michael's 'service particulars' (NAA), and in January 1972, Florence wrote to the Department of Air requesting 'Service Medals of my late husband 145461 LAC Smith, Michael Augustine' (NAA). Florence was living in Frankston, Victoria at the time, and their son David was a second year Apprentice in the Army, stationed at Balcombe. Florence died in 1984.

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