SMITH, Walter Leonard
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | Medical Officers |
| Born: | Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, 3 January 1890 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | St Peter's College and University of Adelaide , South Australia |
| Occupation: | Medical Practitioner |
| Died: | Daw Park South Australia, 13 April 1971, aged 81 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Royal Adelaide Hospital WW1 Roll of Honour, Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll, Gawler Council Gawler Men Who Answered the Call WW1 Roll of Honor, Hackney St Peter's College Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Dec 1915: | Involvement Captain, Medical Officers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Kanowna embarkation_ship_number: A61 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1915: | Embarked Captain, Medical Officers, HMAT Kanowna, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Annette Summers
SMITH Walter Leonard MC MB BS
1890-1971
Walter Leonard (Len) Smith was born on 3rd January 1890 in Broken Hill, New South Wales. He was the son of Mr Arthur Smith, a surgeon dentist. His family moved to “Martindale” in Gawler, South Australia. He was educated at St Peter’s College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide and graduated in 1914. He then became a house surgeon at the Adelaide Hospital in February 1915.
Smith enlisted into the AAMC on 17th September 1915 with the rank of captain. He was described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed 10st 7lbs with blue eyes and black hair. Smith embarked on the Kanowna, although one record suggests the Kyarra, on 22nd December 1915. He was admitted to hospital with measles on 15th July 1916 later re-joining his unit. He was re-hospitalised in March 1917. He was attached to 13 Fd Arty as Regimental Medical Officer on 3rd February 1917 subsequently returning to his unit, 13 Fd Amb, on 18th April 1917. On several occasions he was detached from the FdAmb to 60th Bn Division Base Depot and other Field Ambulances. He was awarded the Military Cross in February 1918. His citation read: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while in charge of stretcher bearers and posts. He did significant work in attending to the wounded and organising their removal, and by his fearlessness and determination set a splendid example to the stretcher bearers." Smith was transferred to 1 Convalescent Depot as MO on 30th August 1918. He was promoted major on 10th September 1918. He returned to Australia on the Ceramic disembarking in Australia on 24th September 1919. His appointment to the AIF was terminated on 16th November 1919. He was issued with the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
He married Isabel McPherson and they lived at The Parade, Norwood, South Australia, where he continued in general practice. He came under criticism from the coroner for failing to appreciate the seriousness of bed sores which contributed to the death of an elderly nursing home patient in 1947. Walter Leonard Smith died at Daw Park on 13th April 1971 aged 81 years.
Source
Blood, Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia, who Served in World War 1.
Verco, Summers, Swain, Jelly. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2014.
Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD
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