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Lt. William Frank Smith was killed in an aircraft accident at Hounslow in England, near the current day Heathrow Airport. He had previously served in the 56th Battalion AIF in France, and had suffered a gunshot wound to the face during the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916. Smith died on his first solo flight when the DeHavilland DH.1 machine he was flying with the 19th Reserve Squadron RFC, developed a nose dive from causes unknown and crashed. The official verdict was “Flying accident. Apparent vertical nose dive. First solo flight. The machine was OK before flight. It was the conclusion of the Court of Inquiry that the accident was as a result of mismanagement of the machine on the part of the pilot. Pilot taxied machine across the aerodrome and rose normally. Flew straight and then banked sharply by 15 degrees to the left whilst climbing. Machine then side slipped and nosedived." Smith is buried in a church yard in Middlesex England. His parents were Sidney and Sarah Isabella Smith of Lowestoft, Suffolk. His next of kin was a brother, Major Frederick Stanley Smith living at Suffolk in England.

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

William Frank Smith was born at Lowestoft, Suffolk, England on 16th August, 1888 to parents Sidney & Sarah Isabella Smith (nee Ling).

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 14th September, 1915 (date as per Embarkation Roll, however some copies of Attestation Papers have date as 31st August, 1915) at Warwick Farm Depot, Sydney, New South Wales. He was a 27 year old, Estate Agent from “Walalia” Bondi Beach, New South Wales & his next of kin was listed as his mother – Mrs Sydney Smith, 37 High Street, Lowestoft, England.

Private William Frank Smith, Service number 3267, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Suevic (A29) on 20th December, 1915 with the 20th Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements.

On 16th February, 1916 Private Smith was allotted to & proceeded to join 56th Battalion from Zeitoun (5th Training Battalion). He was taken on strength of 56th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on the same day.  He was allotted the letter “A” after his Regimental Number  - 3267A (this occurred due to duplication of Service numbers when being transferred).

He embarked from Alexandria on 19th June, 1916 on H. T. Huntsend to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force). He disembarked at Marseilles, France on 29th June, 1916.

Private William Frank Smith was wounded in action on 20th July, 1916. He was admitted to No. 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station in France on 20th July, 1916 with G.S.W. (gunshot wounds) to Face & Side. Private Smith was transferred to Ambulance Train & was admitted to 13th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, France on 20th July, 1916 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Face. He was transferred & admitted to No. 1 Convalescent Depot (Camp) at Boulogne on 28th July, 1916. Private Smith was discharged as fit from Convalescent Depot to Base Details on 1st August, 1916.

From the 56th Battalion War Diary – the Battalion were located in Bac St. Maur Sector from 15th July, 1916 to 21st July, 1916. “Total casualties of the B n., for the day consisted of – 12 killed – 77 wounded – 13 missing. During the night 20th/21st July, 1916, over 100 wounded men were brought in from “No Man’s Land” and taken to the rear.”

(Information from War Diary from the Australian War Memorial)

On 13th September, 1916 Private Smith was appointed Acting Sergeant while posted at 5th D.B.D. (Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France. He reverted to Acting Corporal on 7th October, 1916 & then to Private from 2nd November, 1916. Private Smith was to be Acting Corporal (EDP – extra duty pay) from 13th November, 1916.

He proceeded to England on 17th November, 1916 from 5th D.B.D. (Divisional Base Depot) & reverted to rank of Private. He had been selected for training for a Commission in the Royal Flying Corps.

Cadet/Private William Frank Smith was posted to Oxford (School of Military Aeronautics) from 26th January, 1917.

Private William Frank Smith was discharged from A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Force) in UK on 16th March, 1917 in consequence of being appointed a Commission in the Royal Flying Corps. (London Gazette 30014 of 10/4/1917. 1st Anzac T89 18/11/16).

On 17th March, 1917 William Frank Smith was appointed Second Lieutenant with Royal Flying Corps.

Second Lieutenant William Frank Smith was posted to No.4 Reserve Squadron (Farnborough) from 21st March, 1917.

On 10th May, 1917 Second Lieutenant Smith, 28 High Street, Lowestoft, gained his Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate at Military School, Ruislip on a Maurice Farman Biplane.

He was transferred to No. 19 Reserve Squadron (Hounslow) on 11th May, 1917.

On 13th May, 1917 Second Lieutenant Smith was piloting an Airco (DeHavilland) D.H.1 No. 4634 from R.F.C. Hounslow Heath when the plane side slipped and nose dived while on take-off.

Second Lieutenant William Frank Smith died on 13th May, 1917 at R.F.C. Hounslow Heath, Middlesex, England as a result of an aeroplane accident.

A Court of Inquiry was held : “Apparent vertical nose dive. First solo flight. The machine was OK before flight. It was the conclusion of the Court of Inquiry that the accident was as a result of mismanagement of the machine on the part of the pilot. Pilot taxied machine across the aerodrome and rose normally. Flew straight and then banked sharply by 15 degrees to the left whilst climbing. Machine then side slipped and nose dived"

He was buried in St. Leonard’s Churchyard, Heston, Middlesex, England – Plot number New Ext. 4AA. and now has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

Lieutenant William Frank Smith is remembered on the Commemorative Roll Book, located in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. The Commemorative Roll records the names of those Australians who died during or as a result of wars in which Australians served, but who were not serving in the Australian Armed Forces and therefore not eligible for inclusion on the Roll of Honour.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/heston.html