SMITH, Michael Noble
| Service Number: | 523 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 August 1914, Original of D Company |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Enmore, New South Wales, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Coogee, Randwick, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Hornsby Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer / Boundary Rider |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Ration Farm Military Cemetery, la Chapelle-D'Armentieres Plot VI, Row D, Grave No. 45 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 523, 1st Infantry Battalion, Original of D Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 523, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 523, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Sydney | |
| 8 Mar 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 523, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 523, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Sydney | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 523, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 523 awm_unit: 53rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Michael Noble Smith was the adopted son of David and Lucy C. Ravell, of Boomerang, Greenhill, Narrabeen, NSW.
According to a letter from his foster father David Ravell in his service documents, he was an ‘illegitimate’ child and was raised by the Ravell family from birth. His mother, Miss Gillespie died when he was 6 years old.
He enlisted with the AIF in August 1914 and served at the Gallipoli landing. He reported sick in late May 1915 and was evacuated to Egypt.
He was diagnosed with enteric fever and returned to Australia in September 1915. He was found to have recovered from any trace of the fever in late January 1916 and was sent back overseas with the 53rd Battalion in March 1916.
Private Smith was reported as missing at Fromelles and in late 1917 was confirmed as killed in action on 19 July 1916.
Private Smith’s remains were discovered by the Graves Exhumations people during 1921 and he was reinterred in the Ration Farm Military Cemetery. His identity disc was returned to his foster parents soon after.
His foster brother, 3211 Pte. Stanley Edgar Stephen Ravell, 19th Battalion AIF, died of wounds in Belgium on 29 October 1917, age 28.
Their mother, Lucy Ravell requested that the following epitaph be inscribed on their headstones.
THESE ARE DEEDS
WHICH SHOULD NOT PASS AWAY
NAMES THAT MUST NOT WITHER
Another foster brother, 16 Company Sergeant Major David Ravell 3rd Battalion AIF, was awarded the Military Medal for his efforts in Belgium in 1916.
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