SMITH, Rupert Espiner
| Service Number: | 5677 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 26th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | 10 November 1886, place not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Ingham, Hinchinbrook, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Sugar-boiler |
| Died: | Wounds, Horton (County of London) War Hospital, Epsom, Surrey, England , 5 September 1918, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Section IV, Row F, Grave 13 Epitaph reads "Adieu Dear Lad. What Need Of Tears Or Fears For You" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 5677, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Clan McGillivray embarkation_ship_number: A46 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 5677, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Clan McGillivray, Brisbane |
Help us honour Rupert Espiner Smith'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 – 5th September…… Rupert Espiner Smith was born on 10th November, 1886 at Aitkenvale, Townsville, Queensland.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 8th April, 1916 as a 29 year old, single, Sugar-boiler from Cairns, Queensland.
Private Rupert Espinah (middle name as per Embarkation Roll) Smith, Service number 5677, embarked from Brisbane, Queensland on HMAT Clan McGillivray (A46) on 7th September, 1916 with the 7th Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Battalion, 15th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 2nd November, 1916.
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.
On 21st November, 1916 Private Smith was marched in to 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone, Wiltshire. He proceeded overseas to France on 13th December, 1916 on S.S. Victoria. Private Smith was marched in to 2nd Divisional Base Depot at Etaples France on 14th December, 1916. He proceeded from 2nd Divisional Base Depot on 17th December, 1916 to join his Unit & was taken on strength of 26th Battalion in France on 19th December, 1916.
He reported sick “to Hospital” on 24th December, 1916. (no other details listed).
On 23rd March, 1917 Private Smith reported sick & was admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance with Influenza. He was transferred to 2nd Divisional Rest Station on 23rd March, 1917. Private Smith was discharged to duty on 2nd April, 1917 & rejoined his Battalion on 4th April, 1917.
Private Rupert Espiner Smith was wounded in action in France on 3rd May, 1917. He was admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance on 3rd May, 1917 with shrapnel wound/s to Head then transferred the same day to 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. Private Smith was transferred to Ambulance Train & admitted to 9th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 4th May, 1917 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Head. He was transferred & admitted to 2nd Convalescent Depot at Rouen on 5th May, 1917 then transferred to 11th Convalescent Depot at Buchy on 11th May, 1917. Private Smith was medically classed “A” (fit for active service) on 12th June, 1917 & was admitted to 2nd A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Havre, France on 12th June, 1917. He proceeded from 2nd A.D.B.D. on 16th June, 1917 & rejoined 26th Battalion in France on 18th June, 1917.
He proceeded on English Leave from Belgium on 11th January, 1918 & rejoined 26th Battalion from Leave on 27th January, 1918.
Private Rupert Espiner Smith was wounded in action (2nd occasion) in France on 8th August, 1918. He was admitted to 6th Australian Field Ambulance with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Abdomen then transferred to 47th Casualty Clearing Station on 8th August, 1918. Private Smith was transferred to Ambulance Train on 9th August, 1918 & admitted to 3rd Australian General Hospital on 10th August, 1918. He was transferred to England on 16th August, 1918 on Hospital Ship with G.S.W to Back.
He was admitted to War Hospital, Epsom, Surry, England & was reported to be dangerously ill on 20th August, 1918.
Private Rupert Espiner Smith, “D” Company, 26th Australian Imperial Force, died at 6.30 am on 5th September, 1918 at Horton (County of London) War Hospital, Epsom, Surrey, England from wounds received in action - G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) of Spine (compound fracture Lumbar Vertebra) & Spinal Meningitis.
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.