SMEDLEY, Francis John
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 25 March 1876 |
| Home Town: | Hawthorn, Boroondara, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Accountant |
| Died: | Died of Wounds, United Kingdom, 20 August 1918, aged 42 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Section IV, Row B, Grave 8 Epitaph reads "In God's Keeping My Husband Dear Until We Meet Again" |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Mar 1916: | Involvement 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 1916: | Embarked 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne | |
| 20 Aug 1918: | Involvement Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 7 Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-08-20 | |
| 24 Sep 1918: | Honoured Military Cross |
Help us honour Francis John Smedley'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 – 20th August…… Francis John Smedley was born on 25th March, 1876 at Carlton, Victoria.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 5th March, 1915 stating he was a 39 year old, married, Accountant from “Templestowe” Harold Street, Upper Hawthorn, Victoria.
On 16th March, 1915 Francis John Smedley was posted to Depot for recruit training. He was transferred to “N” Company, 4th Depot Battalion as School Sergeant from 1st September, 1915 then transferred to 15th Reinforcements of 7th Battalion from 14th December, 1915.
Francis John Smedley had applied for a Commission in the Australian Imperial Force – Infantry on 26th July, 1915 & on 17th December, 1915.
He married Florence Margaret Pritchard on 10th February, 1916 in Church of Christ, Hawthorn, Victoria.
On 21st February, 1916 Francis again applied for a Commission in the Australian Imperial Force – Infantry.
Second Lieutenant Francis John Smedley, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Wiltshire (A 18) on 7th March, 1916 with the 7th Infantry Battalion, 15th Reinforcements.
He embarked from Alexandria on 9th May, 1916 on Caledonia to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 17th May, 1916. Second Lieutenant Smedley was marched in to 1st Divisional Base Depot at Etaples, France on 20th May, 1916. He was marched out to his Unit on 22nd June, 1916 & reported for duty with 7th Battalion in France on 23rd June, 1916 & was taken on strength of 7th Battalion on the same day. He was posted to “B” Company pending absorption.
Second Lieutenant Francis John Smedley was wounded in action in France on 29th June, 1916. He was admitted to 7th Field Ambulance on 29th June, 1916 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Right Thigh. Second Lieutenant Smedley was transferred to 2nd Casualty Clearing on 29th June, 1916 then transferred & admitted to 7th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, France on 30th June, 1916. He was discharged to duty on 8th July, 1916 & was marched in to Reinforcements Camp at Rouen on 17th July, 1916. Second Lieutenant Smedley was posted to 1st Divisional Base Depot at Etaples, France on 16th August, 1916. He rejoined 7th Battalion in Belgium on 3rd September, 1916.
On 27th February, 1917 Second Lieutenant Francis John Smedley was promoted to Lieutenant.
He was detached for duty with Instructional Staff at Etaples, France on 3rd April, 1917 & was marched in to 1st A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples on 5th April, 1917. Lieutenant Smedley was attached as “Instructor and in Camp” from 28th April, 1917.
Lieutenant Smedley was transferred to Havre on 22nd May, 1917 & was to return to his Unit on 7th June, 1917. He rejoined his Unit from detachment on 8th June, 1917.
On 18th July, 1917 Lieutenant Smedley was notified that he would be returning to England to join 2nd Training Battalion & joined Supernumerary List. He returned to England on Duty from Boulogne on 19th July, 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.
Lieutenant Smedley proceeded overseas to France via Southampton on 3rd February, 1918. He ceased his secondment with 2nd Training Battalion in England & resumed regular duty. Lieutenant Smedley was marched in to A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre, France on 5th February, 1918 & proceeded to his Unit the same day. Lieutenant Smedley rejoined his Unit (7th Battalion) in the Field on 8th February, 1918 from secondment with 2nd Training Battalion in England.
On 14th March, 1918 Lieutenant Smedley proceeded to 2nd Brigade School & rejoined his Unit on 28th March, 1918.
Lieutenant Francis John Smedley was recommended for Military Cross on 13th June, 1918 & 22nd June, 1918 by Lieutenant Colonel E. E. Herrod, D.S.O., Commanding 7th Australian Battalion:
“Near STRAZEELE Railway Station East of HAZEROUCK on night of 12/13 June 1918 during progress of the successful attack on enemy positions Lieut SMEDLEY was in charge of a platoon which had been moved forward from the support Company to hold the line during the attack. The platoon commander of the attacking platoon in front of Lieut. SMEDLEY’s position was dangerously wounded early in the fight just when his objective had been reached, and a number of men of his platoon were wounded. Lieut SMEDLEY immediately pushed out with a number of men and took charge of the attacking platoon. The attack of this platoon and consolidation of the objective were being held up by determined enemy resistance backed by a Machine Gun. Lieut SMEDLEY at once disposed his platoon for attack and successfully despatched the enemy. The Machine Gun was captured, 6 of the enemy killed and 15 prisoners captured. Lieut SMEDLEY then successfully consolidated the position and held it against an immediate counter attack of the enemy, which he successfully repulsed with his platoon Lewis Gun. His courage, skill and initiative were of the utmost value in the enterprise, the success of which would have been seriously endangered had the enemy held the position captured by Lieut SMEDLEY and his platoon.”
Lieutenant Francis John Smedley was awarded the Military Cross (AIF List No. 389) (London Gazette – 24 September, 1918 & Commonwealth of Australia Gazette – 12 February, 1919)
On 9th August, 1918 Lieutenant Francis John Smedley was wounded in action (2nd occasion). He was admitted to 8th Australian Field Ambulance on 10th August, 1918 with G.S.W to Back (fractured Spine?) then transferred to 20th Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Lieutenant Smedley was transferred to Ambulance Train 9 on 11th August, 1918 & admitted to 14th General Hospital at Wimereux on 12th August, 1918. He was transferred to England on Hospital Ship St. Denis on 15th August, 1918.
He was admitted to Empire Hospital, Vincent Square on 16th August, 1918 with G.S.W. to Back – severe.
Lieutenant Francis John Smedley died at 11.30 am on 20th August, 1918 at Empire Hospital, Vincent Square, London, England from wounds received in action – Shell wound – Cervical Spine Quadriplegia & Ascentery Myelitis.
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
Click images to start slideshow.