SMITH, William James
| Service Number: | 1054 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , 12 May 1889 |
| Home Town: | Richmond (V), Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Yarragon State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Timber Worker No.1 Mill, Manjimup, Western Australia |
| Died: | Killed in action, France, 19 July 1916, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial, Yarragon War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 3 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1054, Depot Battalion (AIF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1054, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1054, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1054, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Private William James Smith was the eldest son of Mrs. Catherine Smith, of 36 Tanner Street, Richmond, Victoria. He was killed in action at Fromelles, in France on 19 July 1916, at the age of 27.
His younger brother, 1696 Pte. George Stoddart Smith 5th Battalion AIF was killed in action at Lone Pine on Gallipoli on 9 August 1915, aged 19, (George was a well-known member of the Lennox Junior Football Club in Richmond). Their father, John Smith, was stated by the mother, Catherine, to have deserted the family during 1914 and she did not know of his whereabouts.
William was working at a timber mill in Western Australia when he enlisted during May 1915. He served with the 32nd Battalion which as part of the 5th Division was sent to attack Fromelles on 19 July 1916. William was stated by a witness to have been “killed by a shell, fell into a trench which was flooded, and went under.”
Catherine received a pension for the two sons she lost, and all of their medals and entitlements. She had five younger children in her care.
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