Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edward John Smith - 58641

World War 1 was a devastating conflict fought between the Allied and Central powers between 1914 and 1918. Participating in this was Edward John Smith, a private with the 4th Motor Transport company, serving in the UK and France on the allied side between 1918 and 1920, assisting with the repatriation of motor equipment. Edward John Smith was born on the 8th of June 1898 to Edward Smith and Ida May Smith. He was baptised on the 23rd of November of that year at the St Andrew’s Cathedral Church and attended Sydney Technical High School in Ultimo between 1913 and 1915 (1). He was then subsequently employed at W F James at Woollomoloo as an apprentice engineer. There he worked for three years until he enlisted.

He enlisted as a private on the 18th of May 1918 at Liverpool. On the 19th of June, he boarded the SS Feldmarschall with the 4th Reserve Motor Transport Company bound for London arriving on the 26th of August (2). He then attended training as a gunner with the 14th Training Brigade, transferring to the 3rd Training Brigade on the 9th of November, based at Hytesbury before being taken on strength with the 4th Motor Transport Company. Motor transport companies in WW1 generally dealt with the design, construction, maintenance and supervision of motor vehicles and their depots. After the war concluded. Smith was possibly posted due to his background as an engineering apprentice, which would be useful for these duties. His training as a gunner would have equipped him with the skills to operate land based artillery such as machine guns and mortars to defend vehicles and depots that his unit were operating.

While based at Hytesbury, he was absent without leave for 6 days from the 7th of November to the 13th. As a result, he was given 5 days confined to the barracks and had one day’s worth of pay forfeited as punishment. During this time, he was admitted to the hospital with measles, being discharged on the 20th of November. On the 9th of January 1919, he was transferred to the 6th Australian Corps Troops Mechanical Transport Company. On the 28th of January 1919, he was transferred onwards to France. The initial purpose of sending transport companies to France was to assist with the western front by reconstructing and maintaining motor vehicles. These would be used for transporting vital goods such as ammunition and rations. After the war concluded, this effort was concentrated on salvaging the remaining vehicles, preparing them for repatriation, most likely what Smith was involved with from this time.

He then committed an unknown crime in the town of Beaumetz on the 28th of April and had four day’s worth of pay forfeited once again, being reinstated on the 2nd of May 1919. On the 24th of May, he was taken on strength with the 4th Motor Transport Company, the transfer being completed on the 30th.

He was admitted to the 1st general hospital of Wimeraux on the 25th of October, being diagnosed with venereal disease on the 1st of November. This disease was not uncommon during WW1, however the majority of soldiers that suffered from this disease either received minimal treatment or immediate discharge as a result of the disciplinary and medical issues surrounding it. As such, he boarded a hospital ship on the 14th of that month and was sent to the Bermondsey Military Hospital in London, arriving there on the 15th. Less than a month later on the 14th of February 1920 he was discharged from the hospital and granted a ten day furlough. He boarded the HMAT Ceramic on the 12th of March (2) which took him back to Australia, returning to Sydney on the 6th of May and was officially discharged from the military on the 6th of June 1920 ending a total of two years of service. As a result of his time in the war, he was awarded the British War medal, which was given to all British and Imperial soldiers (3) as well as the Victory medal, given to all allied soldiers for their participation (4).

Nothing is known about Smith after he was discharged. He didn’t go back to his former employer in Woollomoloo, as it was closed in 1920. His life afterwards and date of death is not known. As a whole, Smith’s time in the motor transport company as well as many others is not well documented, despite the importance of their work. Although not directly participating in any major battles, their service in maintaining and operating motor vehicles and Smith’s participation had a great effect on assisting front line troops with their service and contributed to the victory of the allied powers in World War 1.

Bibliography

Stevenson, Ken. “WW1 Honour Board soldier files.” Google Drive, https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lDD349rzzEhy6kD6DcQBvbTVdZuerxID. Accessed 2025.“Smith Edward John : SERN 58641 : POB Sydney NSW : POE Sydney NSW : NOK F Smith Edward.” National Archives Australia, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=1771134&isAv=N. Accessed 2025.“2/101 General Transport Company.” Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U56360. Accessed 2025.“British War Medal 1914-20.” Defence, https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/imperial-awards/british-war-medal-1914-20. Accessed 2025.“Victory Medal.” Defence,

https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/imperial-awards/victory-medal. Accessed 2025.

Endnotes

(1) Google drive, 1913 Class 1B.jpg
(2) Google drive, Smith EJ 14.jpg to Smith EJ 3.jpg (identical to those on NAA records)
(3) https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/imperial-awards/british-war-medal-1914-20
(4) https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/imperial-awards/victory-medal