SMITH, Francis Peter
| Service Number: | 3618 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 29th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Chilwell, Geelong, Victoria, January 1895 |
| Home Town: | Geelong, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | Influenza & Double Pneumonia, University War Hospital, Southampton, Hampshire, England , 11 July 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Southampton (Hollybrook) Cemetery Plot B, Row O1, Grave No. 58 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3618, 29th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 3618, 29th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 3618, 29th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orsova, Melbourne |
Help us honour Francis Peter Smith's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 7th February, 1916 as a 21 year old, single, Driver from Chilwell, Geelong, Victoria.
Private Francis Peter Smith, Service number 3618, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Orsova (A67) on 1st August, 1916 with the 8th Infantry Brigade, 29th Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 14th September, 1916.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
He was marched in to 8th Training Battalion from Australia.
On 21st December, 1916 Private Smith proceeded overseas to France via Folkestone per SS Princess Clementine. He was marched in to 5 A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 22nd December, 1916 from England. Private Smith was admitted to Segregation on 4th January, 1917 & was discharged to Base Depot on 21st February, 1917. He was marched out from 5th A.D.B.D, on 5th March, 1917 & was taken on strength of 29th Battalion in the Field on 6th March, 1917 from Reinforcements.
Private Smith was written up on 14th April, 1917 for “Disobedience of Orders in that he ate his emergency ration without authority 13.4.17.” He was awarded 2 days Field Punishment No. 2 & was required to pay for the emergency ration.
On 14th November, 1917 Private Smith was sent to 8th Brigade Works Unit & rejoined 29th Battalion on 16th December, 1917.
He was on Leave to UK from 28th January, 1918. He was admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford, Wiltshire, England on 11th February, 1918 with Gonorrhoea whilst on Leave. He was discharged on 23rd March, 1918 – Total VD period – 41 days. Private Smith was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on 23rd March, 1918 from Hospital.
Private Smith was marched in to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire on 1st April, 1918 from No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, having been passed dentally fit.
He proceeded overseas to France via Folkestone on 24th April, 1918 & was marched in to N.Z. B.D. (New Zealand Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 25th April, 1918.
Private Smith was marched out from N.Z. B.D. on 28th April, 1918 & rejoined his Unit with 29th Battalion in the Field on 15th May, 1918.
On 30th June, 1918 Private Smith reported sick. He was admitted to 15th Australian Field Ambulance on 30th June, 1918 with Myalgia. Private Smith was transferred to 20th Casualty Clearing Station on 30th June, 1918 then transferred to 29th Ambulance Train on 2nd July, 1918. He was admitted to 12th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 3rd July, 1918 with Myalgia. Private Smith embarked for England on Hospital Ship Grantully Castle on 6th July, 1918.
He was admitted to admitted to University War Hospital, Southampton on 7th July, 1918 seriously ill – N.Y.D. (not yet determined) (as per Statement of Service form, however the Casualty Form – Active Service recorded he was seriously ill with “Sec anaemia”.)
Private Francis Peter Smith died at 6.45 pm on 11th July, 1918 at University War Hospital, Southampton, Hampshire, England from Influenza & Double Pneumonia.
He was buried in Hollybrook Cemetery, Southampton, Hampshire, England where 15 other WW1 Australian War Graves (or connected to Australia) are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/southampton...
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