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The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Lionel Schmitzer was born in 1895 to parents Frederick and Honora (Nora) Schmitzer (nee Farrell). His birth was registered in Taree, New South Wales.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 8th October, 1915 at Holsworthy, Sydney, New South Wales under the name of “Jack Edward Smith” stating he was a 21 year old, single, Carpenter from Oxley Island, Manning River, NSW.

Private “Jack Edward Smith”, Service number 4311, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Aeneas (A60) on 20th December, 1915 with the 1st Infantry Battalion, 13th Reinforcements.

On 16th February, 1916 Private “Smith” was allotted to and proceeded to join 54th Battalion from Zeitoun. He joined 54th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 16th February, 1916.

He embarked from Alexandria on 19th June, 1916 on H. T. Caledonian to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 29th June, 1916.

Private “Jack Edward Smith” was wounded in action in France on 19 - 20th July, 1916. He was admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 20th July, 1916 then transferred to Ambulance Train on 21st July, 1916. Private “Smith” was admitted to 35th General Hospital at Calais, France on 21st July, 1916 with GSW (gunshot wound/s) to left thigh. He was transferred from Calais to No. 1 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on 2nd August, 1916. Private “Smith” was discharged to Base Details - fit on 21st August, 1916.

Newspaper item – The Northern Champion, Taree NSW – 16 August, 1916:

“Soldiers Three”

Lionel Schmitzer, wounded in France in the memorable dash of the Australians at Pozieres, is the third son of Mr. Fred. Schmitzer, of Oxley Island. He was determined to take a hand in the war, and went to Sydney to enlist amongst the first from this district, but was rejected. Bad teeth was the reason assigned. He returned home, and got his teeth attended to. When a call was made through the Press for Rejects to again offer he went to Sydney and presented himself at Victoria Barracks and was again turned down as a soldier, but was offered a job as groom in Egypt. His reply was that he could get 10/ a day working his father's horses, and he wasn't going to Egypt to get 6/- a day for that work, and if he couldn’t do fighting the game was no good to him. The earnestness of this boy of 19 caused a sympathetic recruiter to tell him to shorten his name and try the Board of Health recruiting office that night. He did, and under the name of John Edward Smith was accepted without any trouble. His mother received a cable last week that he was wounded, so this soldier of 20 has seen the fighting he was anxious for. The reports show that it was of the heaviest of the war.

His brother, Thomas James Schmitzer, was in the 8th Battalion, about which the untrue report was cabled a few days ago that it had been wiped out. He evidently heard of the same news being in the British papers, for he cabled his mother from London last week that he had passed through the Pozieres carnage without a scratch, and had a couple of days leave in England after it.

Another brother, Frederick Clement Schmitzer, should be somewhere about France now. He is one of Carmichael's men. He and Tom didn't have to shorten their names.  

He was marched in to 5th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples & was marched out to join his Unit on 14th September, 1916. Private “Smith” rejoined his Unit in France on 15th September, 1916.

On 12th December, 1916 Private “Smith” was admitted to 15th Australian Field Ambulance with Influenza. He was transferred to Ambulance Train on 10th January, 1917 then admitted to 5th General Hospital at Rouen, France the same day with Trench Feet. Private “Smith” embarked for England from Rouen on 10th January, 1917 on Hospital Ship Aberdonian with Trench Feet.

Private “Smith” was admitted to Norfolk War Hospital, Norwich, England on 12th January, 1917 with Trench feet – slight. He was transferred to 1st Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield on 11th April, 1917 then discharged to Depot at Weymouth on 26th April, 1917.

On 26th April, 1917 Private “Smith” was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset, England.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training & convalescing was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire & also in the county of Dorset.

He was marched in to Overseas Training Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire on 29th April, 1917.

On 16th July, 1917 Private “Smith” proceeded overseas to France from Overseas Training Depot. He was marched in from England to 5th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Havre, France on 17th July, 1917. Private “Smith” was marched out to his Unit on 31st July, 1917 & rejoined his Unit in France from Hospital on 1st August, 1917.

Private “Jack Edward Smith” was “Mentioned in Despatches” – “The two N.C.O.’s and five other ranks mentioned in column four were portion of a fatigue party which daily, from 24-9-17 to 29-9-17 carried R.E. stores S.A.A., bombs etc., from HOOGE Crater to the front line and the “Butt” about 4,500 yards. On the return journey, they brought back wounded to the A.D.S. at CLAPHAM JUNCTION. During the whole time mentioned, these worked increasingly. By their courageous __ and devotion to duty, they set a splendid example to the remainder if their party. Each trip they made to the front line, necessitated passage through most intense enemy barrages which caused very severe casualties to their party.” The seven men named were from 54th Battalion, A.I.F: 4972 L/Cpl George Armour; 2153 Pte Stanley Richard Drew; 1624 Pte Percival Lloyd Buckley; 4844 Pte John Moylan; 4311 Pte John Edward Smith; 2432 Cpl Charles Stanley Joyce & 4902 Pte Charles Walsh.

From 16th November, 1917 Private “Smith” was detached for duty with 5th Divisional Headquarters & rejoined his Unit on 13th December, 1917.

He was sent to 14th Training Brigade School in France from 10th July, 1918 & rejoined his Unit on 3rd August, 1918.

Private “Jack Edward Smith” was wounded in action (2nd occasion) in France on 31st August, 1918. He was admitted to 9th Australian Field Ambulance on 31st August, 1918 with multiple wounds then transferred to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station with multiple shrapnel wounds. Private “Smith” was transferred to Ambulance Train on 1st September, 1918 & admitted to 5th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 2nd September, 1918. He was reported as dangerously ill on 29th September, 1918 & again on 6th October, 1918 & on 14th October, 1918. Private “Smith” was transferred to Ambulance Train 32 on 21st October, 1918 with GSW (gunshot wound/s) to head, hand, right buttock & legs.

Newspaper item – The Northern Champion, Taree, NSW – 28 September, 1918:

Mr and Mrs Fred Schmitzer, of Oxley Island, recently received a cable from the military authorities, stating that their son, Private Lionel Schmitzer, has been dangerously wounded in action in France. The sons of Mr and Mrs Schmitzer have done their duty to Empire, One of them, Sergeant-major Thomas Schmitzer, was killed in action, another son, Fred, returned wounded, and now Lionel, who is 23 years of age, has been badly hurt. It is three years since he enlisted. Much sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Schmitzer, who gave cheerful consent to their fine lads joining the ranks and risking all the tragedies of war.

On 23rd October, 1918 Private “Smith” was admitted to Graylingwell War Hospital, Chichester, England with shell wounds to leg, right amputated -severe.

Private “Jack Edward Smith” died at 3 pm on 5th November, 1918 at Graylingwell War Hospital, Chichester, Sussex, England from wounds received in action - shell wounds to leg, right amputated, heart failure – died under anaesthetic. The “Morning State of Sick” form recorded  “Private John E. Smith, “A” Company. 54/ A.I.F.”

He was buried in Chichester Cemetery, Chichester, West Sussex, England where 10 other WW1 Australian Soldiers are laid to rest.

Newspaper item – The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, NSW – 22 November, 1918:

“Times”: Last week a message came through that a soldier had died of wounds, but owing to the confusion we did not mention the names. It has now been definitely cleared up that the soldier was Lionel Schmitzer, son of Mr Fred Schmitzer, of Oxley Island. This death is a very sad one when one thinks of the circumstances of the enlistment. Young Schmitzer was rejected by the authorities on account of his name. Then he presented himself again under the name of Smith, and being a fine, healthy young man he easily passed. He was anxious to do his bit, even changing his name to be permitted to do it. Widespread sympathy is extended to the bereaved parents and family.

His Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone reads “Lionel Schmitzer served as 4311 Private J. E. Smith”

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/chichester.html