SMITH, George
| Service Numbers: | 2247, 2247A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Templers, South Australia, 15 December 1876 |
| Home Town: | Freeling, Light, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Ganger |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 16 April 1917, aged 40 years |
| Cemetery: |
Grevillers British Cemetery Plot I, Row C, Grave No. 6, |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Freeling Boer War, Boxer Rebellion and WW1 Memorial Panel, Freeling WW1 Pictorial Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 9 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2247, 48th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2247, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2247, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Miltiades, Fremantle | |
| 12 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2247, 48th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2247, 48th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Adelaide | |
| 16 Apr 1917: | Involvement Private, 2247A, 48th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2247A awm_unit: 48 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-04-16 |
George Smith
Name: George Smith
Service Number: 2247A
Place of Birth: Templers
Date of Birth: 15 December 1876
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 9 May 1916
Age at Enlistment: 39 years 4 months
Next of Kin: Wife – Martha Smith /
Freeling
Occupation: Ganger
Religion: Baptist
Rank: Private 48th Battalion
George was the son of James and Elizabeth Smith [nee Lomas] of Templers.
Upon leaving Adelaide on 12 August 1916 on the Ballarat, and completing
additional training in England, George was sent to France with his unit on 23
November. He sustained a serious gunshot wound to the head during action in
France on 9 April 1917 and died a week later. George was buried at Grevillers
British Cemetery 1.25 miles west of Bapaume. His personal effects were sent
to his wife on 11 October 1917. Martha was granted a fortnightly War
Widows’ Pension.
Submitted 20 October 2023 by christopher collins
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
George Smith was the son of John and Elizabeth Smith, born in 1876 and was over 40 years of age when he lost his life. He was married to Martha and at least one child, John George Leslie Smith, born 1903 in Broken Hill, was awarded a pension.
The following article appeared in the Adelaide Advertiser during May 1917, ‘The late Private George Smith was the eldest son of Mrs. R. Smith, of Hamley Bridge. He was born at Templers 40 years ago, and spent about nine years in Broken Hill. He was foreman at Mr. J. E. Neldner's, and also at Scholz and Elix's chaff mill in Freeling for a number of years. Prior to enlisting in May, 1916, he was ganger for Mr. G. Baxter on the Clare railway. He sailed for England on August 12, 1916, and left for France on October 29. He was in many big battles before meeting his death on April 16. Private C. Smith, a brother, also made the supreme sacrifice. Private G. Smith left a widow and two children.’
George suffered a head wound at Bullecourt on the 9 April 1916 and died of his wound a week later.
George’s brother 1733 Private Charles Smith 48th Battalion AIF, of Hamley Bridge SA, died of bronchitis in France 17 February 1917, age 36.
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