SMITH, Percy
| Service Number: | 731 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 February 1916, An original member of C Company |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 40th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Richmond, Tasmania, Australia, 9 December 1889 |
| Home Town: | Grove, Huon Valley, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in action, France, 28 March 1918, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Heilly Station Cemetery Plot VII, Row A, Grave No. 55. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 731, 40th Infantry Battalion, An original member of C Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 731, 40th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 731, 40th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Hobart | |
| 28 Mar 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 731, 40th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 731 awm_unit: 40th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-03-28 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Percy Smith was one of four Tasmanian brothers to enlist during WW1. Only one survived to return to Australia. Eric Smith was killed at Ypres in 1917 and Percy’s other brother Hedley Smith was killed in action only a fortnight before Percy died. The fourth son, Albert, was sent home to Australia in 1918 when it was realised that his three brothers had all died. They were all the sons of Samuel and Bridget Smith of Richmond, Tasmania.
Percy had married during 1914, and was the father of a three year old daughter when he died in 1918. The 40th Battalion made a successful advance on March 28 1918, though 34 members of the unit died on this day, most from shellfire, and most of the men are buried in the Heilly Station Cemetery at Mericourt-L'Abbe in France.
The following letter appeared in the Hobart Mercury during July 1918, “Mrs. Percy Smith of Ferndale Grove, has received the following letter from Lt. Lakin regarding the death of her husband. ‘Dear Mrs. Smith,— It grieves me very much to write on account of your sad loss. Your husband was killed in action on March 27, during an advance we made against the Germans. A shell landed within five yards of where your husband and another were digging in. Both were killed instantaneously. Lance-Corporal Smith was a section leader in my platoon, and a cheerier leader I had never had the good fortune to command before. Fear seemed to hold no place in his heart, and he was always a shining example to his men. As well as being a good leader, he was liked and respected by the men, which speaks for itself. On behalf of the company and myself, please accept our sincerest sympathy in your sad loss.’
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