SMITH, James Joseph
| Service Number: | 5462 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 14th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria, 9 August 1896 |
| Home Town: | Richmond (V), Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | St Ignatius (Catholic) School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Fellmonger |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Guedecourt, near Bapaume, France, 5 February 1917, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Remembered 'with honour' at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux , Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5462, 14th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Apr 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5462, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 14th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
In Memorium
Mary Street has probably more fallen heroes than any other street in Richmond, and few there are that have not at some time had a house with the blinds lowered since that first day at Gaba Tepe. Private J. J. Smith (son of Mr. and Mrs. William Smith, of No. 42) is another Mary Street boy to make the supreme sacrifice. He was one of the brightest boys they ever had at St. Ignatius' School. When he left there he entered the employ of Schofield and Co., Abbotsford. As an athlete, he showed his prowess on the cricket pitches in and around the district, and he was a star player of the many-times premiers Burnley Football Club. This is the team that couldn't play last year. The whole side had gone to the war. Jim Smith was yearning to go to the front from the day war broke out. His frame was sturdy, but there was one thing in his way: he was too young. Another brother, Private W. C. Smith, was "there," and Jim wanted to go too. His parents at last consented. He was just over 19 years of age when lie left Port Melbourne Pier on April 4, 1916. His death occurred on February 5, after ten months of service abroad.
Richmond Guardian newspaper, Saturday 10 March 1917
Submitted 16 November 2021 by Anita O'Neil
Biography
War service: Western Front
Service Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Parents: William and Kate SMITH
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