SMITH, William Oliver
| Service Number: | 3207 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Bailieston, Victoria, Australia, 1891 |
| Home Town: | Wyalkatchem, Wyalkatchem, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Bailieston State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Villers-Bretonneux, France, 24 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Adelaide Cemetery Villers-Bretonneux, France Plot III, Row G, Grave No. 10. THE PATH OF DUTY WAS THE WAY TO GLORY |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial, Wyalkatchem War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3207, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 3207, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 3207, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Berrima, Fremantle | |
| 24 Apr 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 3207, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3207 awm_unit: 51 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-04-24 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William was the son of William and Jessie Smith, of Wirrate, Victoria. He was born at Bailieston, Victoria in 1891. His parents and family were living at Wyalkatchem, Western Australia when he enlisted in the 51st Battalion the same day as his brother, James.
His brother, 3213 Private James Smith 51st Battalion AIF, was killed in action near Ypres, Belgium on 14 October 1917.
Another brother, 1906 Private Peter Oliver Smith 44th Battalion AIF, returned to Australia in 1919.
William joined the 51st Battalion at the front on 7 July 1917. He spent some time in hospital during September 1917 sick with trench fever. When he rejoined the 51st Battalion his brother had been dead for a week. William was promoted to Lance Corporal a week before he took part in the famous counter-attack at Villers Bretonneux on 24/25 April 1918, during which action the 51st Battalion lost 389 men in just two days, but saved the town.
William was stated to have been severely wounded in the lung during this attack and although removed to a dressing station he died soon after. He was buried in the Adelaide Cemetery, at Villers-Bretonneux.
His dad wrote to Base Records in 1922 from Wirrate, Nagambie, seeking the scrolls and plaques for his two sons lost in the war.