Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Patrick Smith was born at Gordon,Vic in 28th November 1894.
According to his Attestation papers his details are as follow:-

He was a labourer with Permewan Wright Carriers for 12 months .

He served with the 71st Infantry and then the Light Horse in Ballarat prior to his enlistment at the outbreak of war on the 27th August 1914.
He was 5'7 and 3/4 inches tall, 145 lbs,his chest was 34 1/2 to 37 1/2 inches and had a dark complexion with brown eyes and hair.
He had 2 tattoos, an anchor on his left forearm and "JS" on his right forearm and nominated a Mr W. Blackford of 205 Ligar St Ballarat as his next of kin.
He was a young man, single and had no children.

He was appointed a private in "B"company in the 8th battalion and sent to Broadmeadows,Vic to commence his training and in October 1914 was appointed a Driver.

He was sent to Egypt, Gallipoli and France serving in all the major battles the 8th Battalion was involved in and in Belgium on 10 September 1917 he re-mustered as a private at his own request.

On the 25th October 1917,aged just 22 years, at a defensive position in the muddy lines outside Passchendaele, Belgium at a place near Decline Copse the 8th Battalion was severely shelled losing approximately 25 men killed over the day and night of 25th and 26th.
John Patrick Smith was a casualty of that shelling being horribly wounded as his Service Record states-

Gun shot wound to right arm,compound fracture amputation of right leg,gun shot wound to left hand and eyes.

In spite of these wounds he initially survived long enough to be carried to a casualty clearing station and then via hospital train to the 54th General Hospital at Wimereux ,France.

He lingered for a week until on the 2nd November 1917 he succumbed to his injuries and died and was buried in the adjacent military section of the Wimereux Communal Cemetery.

His effects were returned to his his advised next of kin Mr Blackford on the ship HMAT Euripides on the 27 December 1917 and were listed as being:-
Disc,letter,2 receipts,pocketbook,metal cigarette case,comb (in case), pencil,mirror in metal case,leather soap case,metal ring(broken),2 x unit colours, 5 x badges.

A large oval framed portrait of John Patrick Smith was kept for many years by the Smith family before it passed to his Great Niece, Pauline Clifford and her husband Kieran, who then made it an obligation to maintain his memory by researching all that could be found regarding both him and the actions the 8th Battalion were involved in during his service.

This culminated in a trip to the battlefields of France and Belgium and the position of the lines at Decline Copse in both 2010 and also again in 2012 and finally Wimereux, France to visit and respect his resting place.

Pauline was the first of his family to do so and provided representation on behalf of those who could not travel there in their time.