SMITH, Frederick Douglas
| Service Numbers: | V155635, VX136305 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 December 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Kyabram, Victoria, Australia , 24 September 1923 |
| Home Town: | Kyabram, Campaspe, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Student Teacher |
| Died: | Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, 30 May 2007, aged 83 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Bundaberg Crematorium & Memorial Park |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 1 Dec 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V155635, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Sep 1942: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, 5th Machine Gun Battalion | |
| 1 Jan 1943: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX136305, 5th Machine Gun Battalion | |
| 28 Jan 1943: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX136305, 5th Machine Gun Battalion, embarked Townsville for Thursday Island on board the Taroona | |
| 14 Jun 1943: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX136305, 5th Machine Gun Battalion, embarked Thursday Island for Sydney on board the Both | |
| 24 Aug 1943: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX136305, 5th Machine Gun Battalion, embarked Cairns for Thursday Island on board Bang Hong Long | |
| 11 Jun 1944: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX136305, 5th Machine Gun Battalion, embarked Thursday Island for Townsville on board the Taroona | |
| 3 Oct 1944: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX136305, 5th Machine Gun Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Youngest of the four brothers who served in WWII (Frank, Jack, Edward and Frederick), Private Frederick Douglas Smith (Service Nos:V155635/VX136305) initially served in the ACMF, enlisting on 1 December 1941 with 52 Infantry Battalion. Private Smith was attached to 5th Machine Gun Battalion on 1 January 1943 when he enlisted in the AIF 'in the field in QLD. Private Smith served on Thursday Island (1943 - 1945), and was attached to 5th Machine Gun Battalion at Discharge on 3 October 1944.
Fred was born in Kyabram, Victoria in 1923, youngest of four children (sons) of Philip (Paddy) John Smith (b1889 in Melbourne, Victoria) and Elsie May Gorman (b1895 in Wangaratta, Victoria). Paddy was working as a Labourer in 1915 when he and Elsie married in Shepparton, and Paddy enlisted in the AIF (Private; Service Nos:513/4494). Following his Discharge from the Army, Paddy and Elsie settled in Kyabram, where they raised their family and Paddy was a Farmer/Orchardist. In the mid 1950s they retired to Bendigo.
Fred was a Student Teacher in 1941 when he enlisted in the Army. Following his Discharge, Fred taught in Melbourne, and in 1947 in Kyabram married Mary Elizabeth Smellie (b1927 in Deniliquin, New South Wales). Fred and Mary lived in Kyabram, the Mallee Region, Wycheproof and Bendigo, where they raised their family and Fred was a Teacher. The couple retired to Kyabram before settling in Bundaberg, QLD. Fred died in 2007 and Mary died in 2023.
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