Walter Leslie (Wally) SMITH

SMITH, Walter Leslie

Service Numbers: 3486, 3486A
Enlisted: 14 July 1915, Bendigo, Victoria
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 21st Infantry Battalion
Born: Timor, Victoria, Australia, 10 June 1896
Home Town: Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria
Schooling: Bell street, Fitzroy, Bendigo Central, Rochester, Flinders and Geelong State Schools, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Clerk
Died: Died of wounds, France, 31 July 1916, aged 20 years
Cemetery: Puchevillers British Cemetery, France
II C 22, Puchevillers British Cemetery, Puchevillers, Picardie, France
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor
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World War 1 Service

14 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3486, 7th Infantry Battalion, Bendigo, Victoria
11 Oct 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3486, 7th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: ''
11 Oct 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3486, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne
31 Jul 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3486A, 21st Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3486A awm_unit: 21st Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-31
31 Jul 1916: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 3486, 21st Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , GSW sustained at Pozieres. Evacuated to 3rd CCS situated at Puchevillers, where he died of wounds later the same day.

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Richard and Mara SMITH

THREE SONS KILLED.
Ex-Sergt. R. C. H. and Mrs. Smith, of Holmes' Hoad, have during the past three weeks received word that their three sons, two captains and one private, had been killed in action in France. The news came as a great shock to citizens, and many expressions of sympathy were made to the bereaved parents and family. The three soldiers were just in the prime of life — 33, 25, and 20 — and the loss is a severe blow.

Private Waller Leslie Smith, who died of wounds on July 31, was the fourth eldest son, and was 20 years of age and a single man. He was born at Timor, Educated at Bell street, Fitzroy, Bendigo Central, Rochester, Flinders and Geelong State Schools. At the time of enlisting he was employed as a clerk at the Electric Supply Company's office, and prior to that at Messrs. McColl, Rankin and Stani street's. He enlisted in July 1915, and embarked on October 8, 1915 with the 11th Reinforcements, 7th Battalion, 2nd Brigade but in Egypt was transferred to the 21st Battalion, 6th Brigade, with his brothers. He landed in France in March and was there till the time of his death. Mr. Smith has been informed that he met his death by a shell bursting near by, wounding 12 and killing three.

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Biography

Brother of Capt. Richard Godfrey Smith (/explore/people/266246) - Killed in action in France on 26 Aug 1916 and Capt. Harold Ernest Smith (/explore/people/171795) - who was also Killed in action in France on 26 Aug 1916

"Constable's Three Sons Killed.

GEELONG.— Word has been received that Captain Harold Smith and Captain R. G. Smith were killed in action in France on 28th August. On 31st July, another brother, Private Walter Smith died in France from wounds. All are sons of ex-police Sergeant Smith, of Bendigo, and Newtown and Chilwell." - from the Melbourne Age 26 Sep 1916 (nla.gov.au)

 

 

 

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