SMITH, William George Thomas
| Service Number: | 5226 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Port MacDonnell, South Australia, 29 July 1882 |
| Home Town: | Ballarat, Central Highlands, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Port McDonnell Public School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Wounds, Edmonton General Military Hospital, England , 13 August 1918, aged 36 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Section IV, Row C, Grave 2 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5226, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 5226, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 5226, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Melbourne | |
| 28 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5226, 8th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, Gassed, remained with unit | |
| 9 Aug 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5226, 8th Infantry Battalion, The Battle of Amiens, GSW/SW left thigh (amputated) DOW England |
Help us honour William George Thomas Smith's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 13th August…… William George Thomas Smith was born at Port MacDonnell, South Australia on 29th July, 1882.
William George Thomas Smith married Clarissa May Lane in Victoria in 1909.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 24th January, 1916 as a 34 year old, married, Labourer from Ballarat, Victoria.
Private William George Thomas Smith, Service number 5226, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Suffolk (A23) on 1st April, 1916 with the 8th Infantry Battalion, 16th Reinforcements & disembarked at Suez on 14th May, 1916.
On 28th May, 1916 Private Smith embarked from Alexandria to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force). He disembarked at Marseilles, France on 4th June, 1916. Private Smith was marched in to 1st Divisional Base Depot at Etaples, France on 7th June, 1916. He joined 8th Battalion in France on 29th July, 1916.
He reported sick on 2nd December, 1916 & was admitted to 2nd Australian Field Ambulance on 3rd December, 1916 then transferred to Casualty Clearing Station with Gonorrhoea. Private Smith was transferred to Ambulance Train 5 on 4th December, 1916 & admitted to 1st Stationary Hospital – cause N.Y.D. (not yet determined). He was transferred on 7th December, 1916 & admitted to 51st General Hospital at Etaples, France on 8th December, 1916 with V.D.G. (Venereal Disease Gonorrhoea). Private Smith was discharged to Base Depot on 24th December, 1916 – Total V.D. period 22 days. He rejoined 8th Battalion in France on 2nd January, 1917.
Private Smith proceeded on Leave on 31st August, 1917 & rejoined 8th Battalion from Leave on 17th September, 1917.
On 28th October, 1917 Private Smith was wounded in action in Belgium – Gassed. He remained on duty.
He was reported to be with his Unit on 9th August, 1918. (This usually occurred when no activity had been entered for a period on the Casualty Form – Active Service.)
Private Smith was wounded in action on 9th August, 1918. He was admitted to 8th Australian Field Ambulance on 10th August, 1918 with shrapnel wounds to right leg. He was transferred to Casualty Clearing Station then transferred & admitted to 2nd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Outreau, France on 11th August, 1918 with Shrapnel wounds to right Thigh. Private Smith embarked from France on 11th August, 1918 for England on Hospital Ship St. Denis with G.S.W. (Gunshot wound/s) to Thigh.
On 12th August, 1918 Private Smith was admitted to Edmonton Military Hospital, England with G.S.W. to Thigh. He was reported to be dangerously ill.
Private William George Thomas Smith died at 8.20 pm on 13th August, 1918 at Edmonton General Military Hospital, England from wounds received in action – G.S.W. left Thigh (amputated).
He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England where around 360 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/s---tr.html
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