Allan Joseph SMITH DCM

Allan Joseph SMITH DCM Update Details

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SMITH, Allan Joseph

Service Number:	VX54565
Enlisted:	30 April 1941
Last Rank:	Corporal
Last Unit:	2nd/9th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia, 21 September 1919
Home Town:	Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Labourer
Died:	Tasmania, Australia, 6 October 1967, aged 48 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne
Memorials:

World War 2 Service

30 Apr 1941:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, VX54565, 2nd/9th Infantry Battalion
14 Sep 1943:	Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, ‘for bravery and distinguished conduct in action in NG’ (NAA) Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 9 September 1943 on page 2027 at position 6 London Gazette: 7 October 1943 on page 4437 at position 6
7 Jan 1946:	Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, VX54565, 2nd/9th Infantry Battalion

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Corporal Allan Joseph Smith (Service No:VX54565) enlisted in the AIF on 30 April 1941 and was a Private attached to 2/14 Infantry Battalion. Private Smith served in the Middle East (3 September 1941 - 4 August 1942) and was in New Guinea (13 October 1942 - 23 September 1943) with 2/6th Infantry Battalion when he was awarded the DCM for 'bravery and distinguished conduct' (NAA) on 14 September 1943 and (AWM) for 'courage and determination Lababia Ridge 21 June 1943). Promoted to Corporal, he served in Borneo (29 May 1945 - 20 December 1945) and was attached to 2/9 Infantry Battalion at Discharge on 7 January 1946. Corporal Smith was described as '.... willing, intelligent, trustworthy and obedient ... a first class soldier. Whilst in Ceylon he did and excellent job ....' (NAA; Captain Dexter; Service No:VX1572). Corporal Smith was one of seven siblings (Reg, Len, Jack, Ron, Lyle and Max) who served in WWII.

Born in Ulverstone, Tasmania in 1919, Allan was sixth of thirteen children of Percy William Smith (b1884 in Morven, Tasmania) and Florence Louisa Hampton (b1883 in George Town, Tasmania). Percy (a Blacksmith) and Florence married in 1913 in Ulverstone, where they settled and raised their family. Percy served in WWI in 1917/1918 (Private; Service No:8057), and in 1921 he and Florence moved to Melbourne, Victoria with their family. Percy worked as a Labourer and Motor Driver.

Allan was working as a Labourer in Melbourne in 1936 when he married Agnes Doreen Softley (b1918 in Melbourne, Victoria). Allan and Agnes settled in Melbourne, where they raised their family and Allan worked as a Labourer. Allan died in 1967 and Agnes in 1972.

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