SMITH, Francis
| Service Number: | 3251 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 July 1915, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 22nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Riddle, Vic., 1892 |
| Home Town: | Sunbury, Hume, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Bolinda State School |
| Occupation: | Stationmaster |
| Died: | Northcote, Vic., 14 July 1960, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, Victoria FMP-RCH-0491 |
| Memorials: | Bolinda State School Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 3251, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Melbourne, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Nov 1915: | Involvement 3251, 22nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: '' | |
| 26 Nov 1915: | Embarked 3251, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Commonwealth, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Peter Sneddon
William Henry Smith and Francis Smith were brothers born to Honorah (Norah) Murphy and Patrick Smith, a carpenter in Bolinda (married in 1880). William Henry was born in Bolinda/Lancefield Junction in 1883 and Francis in Riddells Creek in 1891. Norah and Patrick had at least six other children as well: John Patrick (b. 1881), Catherine Bridge (Katie) (b. 1885), James Edward (b. 1887), Anna (b. 1889), Elizabeth Mary (Bessie) (b. 1893) and Randall Thomas (b. 1896). William attended Bolinda School sometime between 1885 and 1894, and Frank between 1895 and 1898.
Francis enlisted in the armed forces nine days after William. He had been working as an assistant station master for the railways. He embarked for France on 20 November 1915. In August 1916 he was promoted to Lance Corporal and three months later to Corporal. He was promoted to Sergeant on 13 September 1918. He was wounded in action on 9 August 1916 and was able to return to duty on the 26th. He returned to Australia aboard the “Boonah” in June 1919 and was discharged from the armed forces on 31 July 1919.
Upon his discharge from the armed forces, Francis married Eliza May Keating (b. ca. 1897 d. 1986) in 1920, with whom he had five children: Francis William (b. 1921), Anna May) (b. 1923), Phyllis Mary (b. 1926), Desmond Leslie (b. 1927) and Patrician Jean (b. 1931). In the early years of their marriage, Francis worked as a railway employee and Eliza kept their home in Moonee Ponds. Between the mid-1920s and mid-1930s, Francis and Eliza bounced from one small rural town to another while Francis worked on the railways. At various times they lived in Macorna, Rokewood, Fern Hill, Wal Wal, Rupanyup and Bena. Ca. 1936, they returned to city living, moving to Brunswick West. They eventually settled in Victoria Road, Northcote, where they were joined at various times by their adult children, Desmond Leslie Smith (salesman), Eliza May (home duties), Elizabeth Maude (typist), Francis William (buyer), and Phyllis Mary (coil winder, sales). Frank spent his entire working career with the railways and died on 14 July 1960.