SMITH, Frederick William
| Service Number: | 3879 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 August 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Newton, South Australia, 2 February 1886 |
| Home Town: | Hectorville, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Gardener |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 18 June 1918, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Campbelltown Methodist Church WW1 Honour Roll, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3879, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3879, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Sep 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3879, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Commonwealth, Adelaide | |
| 18 Jun 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3879, 32nd Infantry Battalion, "Peaceful Penetration - Low-Cost, High-Gain Tactics on the Western Front" |
Frederick William Smith
Frederick William Smith was born on 2nd of February 1886 at Fifth Creek, South Australia. He was the son of Samuel and Virginia Smith (nee Emmerton).
At the time of his enlistment, his occupation was listed as a gardener, and he was 30 years of age. He left Australia on the HMAT Commonwealth A73, a British merchant ship owned by P&O. It is noted in his casualty record that he was sent on leave to the UK; between the 7th and 21st of February 1918. During that leave period, he sent a postcard to his older sister Ethel May Hunter (nee Smith) and another to his nephew and niece. The second card was dated 30th of April and sent from France. It is assumed the card was sent in April of 1918; seven weeks later, 18th June 1918 he was killed on the Western Front. He is buried at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
Submitted 28 March 2016 by Campbelltown Library Volunteers (Digital Diggers)
Biography contributed by John Edwards
"...3879 Private Frederick William Smith, 32nd Battalion. A gardener from Hectorville, South Australia, prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 9th Reinforcements aboard HMAT Commonwealth on 21 September 1916 for Plymouth, England. He proceeded to France in late December 1916 but was hospitalised due to illness and did not join his battalion on the Western Front near Fricourt, France, until early February 1917. After a week in the field he was hospitalised for a further two months due to illness. Pte Smith was detached to the 8th Light Trench Mortar Battery from early October 1917 until late the following December. Pte Smith was killed in action Near Amiens, France, on 18 June 1918. He has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. He was aged 32 years." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
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