SMITH, James Frederick
| Service Number: | 7083 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 14th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Ensay, East Gippsland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Killed in Action, United Kingdom, 17 May 1918, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Birmingham (Lodge Hill) Cemetery, Warwickshire, England |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 7083, 14th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 7083, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Medic, Melbourne |
Help us honour James Frederick Smith's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 17th May……James Frederick Smith was born at Gravesend, Kent, England in 1893.
According to information provided by his father for the Roll of Honour – James Frederick Smith came to Australia when he was 19 years old.
On 25th October, 1916 James Frederick Smith enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) as a 23 year old, single, Labourer of no fixed address.
Private James Frederick Smith, Service number 7083, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Medic (A7) on 16th December, 1916 with the 14th Infantry Battalion, 23rd Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 18th February, 1917.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
On 18th February, 1917 Private Smith was marched in to Camp Details at Sutton Mandeville, Wiltshire, England. He was marched in to 4th Training Battalion at Codford, Wiltshire on 12th March, 1917.
He was written up for an Offence while posted at 4th Training Battalion, Codford – on 22nd April, 1917 neglecting to obey an order. He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No. 2 By Captain C. R. M. Cox.
On 9th May, 1917 Private Smith proceeded overseas to France from 4th Training Battalion. He was marched in to 4th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 10th May, 1917. Private Smith proceeded from 4th A.D.B.D. on 13th May, 1917 & joined 14th Battalion in France on the same day.
Private James Frederick Smith was wounded in action (Casualty Form – Active Service recorded date as 11th August, 1917). He was admitted to 4th Australian Field Ambulance on 8th August, 1917 with shrapnel wound/s to Left Arm then transferred to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 11th August, 1917. Private Smith was transferred to Ambulance Train 18 on 11th August, 1917 & admitted to 3rd Australian General Hospital at Abbeville, France on 11th August, 1917. He was transferred to 5th Convalescent Depot at Cayeux on 28th August, 1917. Private Smith was discharged from 5th Convalescent Depot on 21st September, 1917 & posted to 4th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Le Havre, France on 22nd September, 1917. He proceeded from 4th A.D.B.D on 28th September, 1917 to rejoin his Unit & rejoined his Unit in the Field on 1st October, 1917.
He reported sick on 12th December, 1917 & was admitted to 4th Australian Field Ambulance with Hammer Toe then transferred & admitted to 48th Casualty Clearing Station on 14th December, 1917 with I.C.T Heel (Inflammation of connective tissues). Private Smith was transferred & admitted to 10th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 15th December, 1917. He was transferred to England on 16th December, 1917.
On 17th December, 1917 Private Smith was admitted to Military Hospital at Bethnal Green, London, England with Septic Toe joint – right (severe). He was transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, Kent on 8th January, 1918.
Private James Frederick Smith was on furlo from 16th January, 1918 to 30th January, 1918 & was then to report to No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott.
He was marched in to No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 31st January, 1918 from furlo. Private Smith was transferred to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverell, Wiltshire on 12th February, 1918.
On 4th March, 1918 Private Smith proceeded overseas to France from Overseas Training Brigade. He was marched in to A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre, France on 5th March, 1918 & marched out from A.I.B.D. on 7th March, 1918. Private Smith rejoined 14th Battalion in the Field on 9th March, 1918.
Private James Frederick Smith was wounded in action (2nd occasion) on 3rd May, 1918 at Villers Bretonneux. He was admitted to 12th Australian Field Ambulance on 3rd May, 1918 with shrapnel wound/s to left Eye & transferred the same day to 61st Casualty Clearing Station. Private Smith was transferred on 6th May, 1918 & admitted to 24th General Hospital at Etaples, France on 7th May, 1918 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Eyes. He was transferred to England on Hospital Ship Stad Anterwerpen on 14th May, 1918.
He was admitted to 1st Birmingham War Hospital, Rednal, Birmingham, England on 15th May, 1918.
Private James Frederick Smith died at 3.15 pm on 17th May, 1918 at 1st Birmingham War Hospital, Rednal, Birmingham, England from wounds received in action – G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Face & fracture of Skull.
He was buried in Lodge Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, West Midlands, England. His name is remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Screen Wall as he does not have a headstone.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/-lodge-hill.html
Click images to start slideshow.