Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

His younger brother, 2641 Pte. Archie Thomas Smith 33rd Battalion AIF, died of wounds in France on 7 April 1918, aged 23.

Francis Smith was the son Francis and Susan Smith of Copeton, near Inverell, New South Wales. He was known as ‘Frank’ to his family and friends. The family lived in the Graman district where their father ran the mail coach, and later the family moved to Copeton the children attended Copeton Public School.

Francis enlisted at the same time as his brother, Archie, during August 1916 and were among eleven men publicly farewelled at Inverell Town Hall and presented with the Inverell medal. The Armidale Chronicle newspaper, 12 August 1916 reported that … ‘The Inverell men made the journey across by cars and were very enthusiastic. They entered town waving flags and singing patriotic songs.’

Apparently, the citizens of Inverell arranged for an inscribed bronze Inverell medal to be presented to men from the area who enlisted, hoping that the memento ‘would remind them of where they had come forward from.’

The brothers were given consecutive regimental numbers in the 33rd Battalion. They arrived in England during January 1917 and joined the 33rd Battalion at the front on 28 April 1917.

Frank Smith was killed during an attack by the Australians. An eye witness to his death stated, ‘At Messines on the 8th June 1917, evening, coming on dark in the advance, Smith was hit in the body and head by an H.E. shell and was killed at once. I was 30 yards to the right of him and saw him killed. I cannot tell where he was buried, as I was wounded next day.’

Frank’s remains were lost after the war and he has no known grave.

A few months before his death the Inverell Times printed the following on 27 April 1917, under the heading, BY BOTTLE POST. FOUR MONTHS ON THE WATER.

When Private Frank N. Smith sailed with his brother, Private A T. Smith, they both agreed to drop a bottle overboard, containing a letter, before quitting the Australian coast. The mother, who resides at Copeton, recently received the following letter from a Mrs. A. Taylor, of Ballarat, Victoria: — ‘Whilst spending a holiday at Point Lonsdale my son picked up a bottle containing the enclosed letter, which I am forwarding to you. Trusting you will receive same, and that the sender may return safely. The soldier's letter, which is dated “At Sea, Nov. 19th, 1916, is as follows: — "My dear mother. — Perhaps you will in time get this; there is just a chance. We are not calling at Melbourne, so the first place to post will be Durban. Thus far we have had a pleasant trip, and all's well. We have a good boat, and plenty of amusements. There are two pianos, violins, and a phonograph on board. — With best love, Frank.” On the envelope of the letter appeared the following: "Will the lucky finder please forward this to Mrs. F. C Smith, Copeton, Inverell, N.S.W.; by so doing you will be conferring a great favor on Private F. N. Smith. 33rd Batt., A.I.F.” The anxious mother quite naturally prizes the letter very much, and is in hopes that her other son's bottle will also be picked up and forwarded to her.