SMITH, Leonard Diplock
| Service Number: | 3280 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 October 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 46th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Newick, Sussex, England, August 1892 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Cart driver |
| Died: | Perth, Western Australia, 18 December 1920, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3280, 46th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 3280, 46th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
| 29 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 3280, 46th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Persic, Fremantle |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Leonard Diplock Smith was the son of James and Margaret Emma Smith of Yew Tree Cottage, Cornwell's Bank, Newick, Sussex, England. It is not known when he came to Australia.
He had four brothers killed during the war, one with the Australians at Gallipoli.
His brothers were,
126 Pte. Septimus Sydney Smith 14th Battalion AIF, killed in action 19 August 1915, aged 19.
3469 Private Edward George Smith Royal Sussex Regiment died of wounds 26 July 1916, aged 25.
200583 Corporal Frederick James Smith Suffolk Regiment killed in action 17 April 1917, aged 32.
9591 Private George Spencer Smith Royal Sussex Regiment killed in action 26 April 1918, aged 32.
All four brothers are remembered on the war memorial at Newick.
3280 Private Leonard Diplock Smith 46th Battalion AIF, enlisted from Western Australia during 1916. He was returned to Australia on 4 May 1917 with a club foot. On 18 December 1920 Frederick told a witness he was going to the hospital, and then to Artnadale.
Mr J. H. Bucknell, a ganger employed on the eastern main line between Midland and Hovea, said on December 19 at 6.30 a.m. he was "running the length," and when about 200 yards from Bellevue station east he noticed the ballast metal disturbed, and found the mutilated body of a man lying between the racecourse and main lines. He came to the conclusion that the deceased approached the line on the high side.
Among the witnesses interviewed was Constable McGuffie also gave evidence. The jury brought in a verdict of suicide.