SMITH, Eric
| Service Numbers: | 273, 273A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Richmond, Tasmania, Australia, 26 August 1898 |
| Home Town: | Richmond (T), Clarence, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Richmond Convent School, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Horse Driver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 12 October 1917, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Richmond War Memorial, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 273, 40th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 273, 40th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 273, 40th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Hobart | |
| 12 Oct 1917: | Involvement Private, 273A, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 273A awm_unit: 51 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-10-12 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Eric’s father noted on his roll of honour form “The clergyman that wrote to us at the time of his death said he done his work well and nobly and was a credit to us all.” Also, “His eldest brother was a warrant officer in the Camel Corps in Palestine and fought on Gallipoli. He returned, but two others made the supreme sacrifice, one was a Lance Corporal in the 40th Battalion.”
Eric was the youngest son; his brothers Hedley and Percy Smith were both killed in March 1918. His oldest brother, Albert, was sent home to Australia in 1918 when it was realised by the authorities that his three brothers had all died. They were all the sons of Samuel and Bridget Smith of Richmond, Tasmania.