SMITH, Walter George
| Service Number: | 29578 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Bombardier |
| Last Unit: | 6th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Essendon, Victoria, Australia, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Moonee Ponds, Moonee Valley, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Died: | Died of wounds, United Kingdom, 16 January 1919 |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Section IV, Row H, Grave 5 Epitaph reads "Deeply Missed By Mother, Sisters & Brothers Of Moonee Ponds" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Essendon State School No 483 Roll of Honor, South Essendon Methodist Church HR |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 29578 | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Oct 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 29578, Australian Field Artillery - 116th to 120th Howitzer Batteries: AIF, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 3 Oct 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 29578, Australian Field Artillery - 116th to 120th Howitzer Batteries: AIF, HMAT Aeneas, Melbourne | |
| 16 Jan 1919: | Involvement Bombardier, 29578, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 29578 awm_unit: 6th Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Bombardier awm_died_date: 1919-01-16 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Heather Ernszt
Son of David Smith and Elizabeth Cousins
Born 1890 in Essendon, Melbourne.
Resident of Moonee Ponds
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 16th January…… Walter George Smith was born at Moonee Ponds, Victoria in 1890.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 20th March, 1916 aged 25 years & 10 months, single & a Butcher from 22 Lethbridge Street, Moonee Ponds, Victoria.
Private Walter George Smith was posted to 19th Depot Battalion at Geelong, Victoria on 2nd May, 1916 for recruit training. He was transferred to Field Artillery Brigade Reinforcements at Maribyrnong, Victoria on 11th May, 1916 as Gunner.
He was admitted to Clearing Hospital at Maribyrnong from 18th July, 1916 having had contact with Measles. Gunner Smith was transferred & admitted to Ascot Vale Isolation Camp from 24th July, 1916 & rejoined Field Artillery Reinforcements at Maribyrnong on 29th July, 1916. He was transferred to 118th Howitzer Battery from 31st August, 1916.
Gunner Walter George Smith, Service number 29578, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Aeneas (A60) on 3rd October, 1916 with the Australian Field Artillery – 118th Howitzer Battery & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 19th November, 1916.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
On 2nd January, 1917 Gunner Smith proceeded overseas to France on Princess Henrietta from R.B.A.A. (Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery) – Camp 21, Larkhill, Wiltshire. He was marched in to A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 30th December, 1916 (date as per Casualty Form – Active Service). Gunner Smith was transferred to 3rd Divisional Artillery at Etaples on 7th January, 1917 & was taken on strength of 3rd A.D.A.D. in the Field on 9th January, 1917.
He was transferred to 3rd D.A.C. (Divisional Artillery Column) on 10th March, 1917 & was taken on strength of 3rd Artillery Details the same day. Gunner Smith was transferred to A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) in France on 20th March, 1917 & was marched into A.G.B.D. at Etaples, France on 21st March, 1917. Gunner Smith was marched out from A.G.B.D. on 7th April, 1917 & was taken on strength of 6th (Army) Field Artillery Brigade - 106th Battery in France on 8th April, 1917.
Gunner Smith was on Leave to UK from 27th October, 1917 & rejoined his Unit from Leave on 9th November, 1917.
On 23rd September, 1918 Gunner Smith was appointed Acting Bombardier.
Acting Bombardier Walter George Smith was wounded in action in France on 17th October, 1918. He was admitted to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station on 17th October, 1918 with Shrapnel wounds to Head & right Shoulder. Acting Bombardier Smith was transferred & admitted to 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France on 18th October, 1918. He was transferred to England on 8th December, 1918 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Head.
He was admitted to 1st London General Hospital, Camberwell, England on 9th December, 1918 with a wounded head.
Bombardier Walter George Smith died at 7.30 pm on 16th January, 1919 at 1st London General Hospital, Camberwell, England from wounds received in action – G.S.W. Head & Meningitis.
He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England – Australian Military Burial Ground where around 360 other Australian WW1 War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/s---tr.html
Click images to start slideshow.