SMYTHE, Herbert Andrew
| Service Number: | 1175 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Toorak, Vic., 1890 |
| Home Town: | Gladesville, Hunters Hill, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Telegraphist |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 3 May 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1175, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1175, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1175, 3rd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 3 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 1175, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1175 awm_unit: 3 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-05-03 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Before the war, he served one year in the Post and Telegraph Rifle Club and seven years and eight months in the Australian Rifles. He enlisted in ‘A’ Company 3rd Battalion, on 27 August 1914. He left for the Middle East (with the 3rd Btn.) on 20 October, 1914 on the “Euripides”. On 25 April 1915, he proceeded to the Gallipoli Peninsula, taking part in the historic landing. This action by the Australian and New Zealand forces saw the birth of the ANZAC legend.
Bert was promoted to Corporal on 7 April 1915, and wounded in action in late April, when a ricocheting Turkish bullet hit him in the right shoulder. He was evacuated to hospital in Birmingham, England. He returned to Egypt and was ‘taken on strength’ at Overseas Mustapha Base, 10 August 1915. He then embarked at Alexandria for the Gallipoli front. On 15 September 1915, he was sent to Lemnos with bronchitis and then on to Wandsworth Hospital in England, 27 October 1915.
On 25 March 1916, he was posted to 26th draft from England to join Middle East Forces and departed on a ship named "Hunterpill". Letters recently found confirm he was at 3rd Bn. Care 1st N.S.W. Training Bn. at Tel-el-Kebir. There he applied for training as a telegraphist and the next date shown on his documents is Bulford, Perham Downs in England on 6 July 1916 for Signals Training. No date of leaving Egypt or name of ship is on the documents. He was later promoted to Sergeant.
He applied in October 1916 for a recommendation for Training as an Officer. He was considered as a suitable candidate but was advised that if he returned to his battalion and did well there, he would be given consideration before others. It is sad that this never came to pass.
However, he wanted to join his three brothers, who were all fighting in the front lines in France at that time. He was finally able to proceed there as a reinforcement for the 3rd Bn. in March 1917, as a Cpl. However, his wish to join in the fighting in France had tragic consequences for him as he was killed in action in the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt on 3 May 1917.
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