John LeGallez (Jack) SMITH

SMITH, John LeGallez

Service Number: 3903
Enlisted: 14 September 1915, Adelaide, South Australia
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 50th Infantry Battalion
Born: Mt Lofty, South Australia, 20 July 1898
Home Town: Mount Lofty, Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Schooling: Crafers School
Occupation: Grocer (later Tram Driver)
Died: Choking, Soldiers Home, Myrtle Bank, South Australia, 8 May 1955, aged 56 years
Cemetery: AIF Cemetery, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia
Memorials: Aldgate War Memorial, Stirling Uniting Church Lych Gate
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World War 1 Service

14 Sep 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia
7 Feb 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3903, 50th Infantry Battalion,

--- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: ''

7 Feb 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3903, 50th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Miltiades, Adelaide
30 Nov 1919: Discharged AIF WW1

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Biography

John Smith known as Jack, was the third child to John Smith & Isabella Ross Smith of Mt Lofty. They lived in Avenue Rd, Mt Lofty next to the railway line. His eldest brother was Alexander Smith who also fought in WW1.

Jack is listed as being a grocer when he enlisted. There was a grocery shop was next door to where he lived.

He enlisted on 15th Sept 1915 at the age of 17 & 2 months but he put his age up to 18 to enlist.

Jack was 5' 43/4" high and weighed 118lbs and he had blue eyes with auburn hair.

He was Private in the 50th Battalion, his regiment number being 3903.

On 2/4/1916 he was on a train to join the 50th Battalion at Holiopolis. On 5/6/1916 Jack was at Alexandria and then at Marseilles on 12/6/1916. He had leave from France from 1/1/1918 to 15/1/1918.

On 17/8/1918 he was wounded in action in the field in France, admitted to Hospital in France on the 19/9/1918 and then invalided in England on 21/8/1918. He returned to Australia on 24/12/1918 on the 'Takada' from England.

He was awarded the Star Medal 1915/1915 and the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

He also received in 1918 a letter from King George, Buckingham Palace for his speedy return to good health.

Jack also had one toe shot off and was paid 50 cents compensation.

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