SMITH, Oliver Harmond
| Service Number: | 3694 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Brisbane, Qld. Australia, 10 July 1888 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Motorman, Miller, Miner. |
| Died: | Coronary Occlusion, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 2 November 1955, aged 67 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane, Qld Part: ANZAC; Portion: 8; Section: 14; Grave: 46. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Oct 1917: | Involvement Private, 3694, 52nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 1917: | Embarked Private, 3694, 52nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney |
Oliver Harmond SMITH – Pte 3694a (1888-1955)
Oliver Harmond Smith was born on 10 July 1888 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He was the sixth of eight children born to Thomas Henry Smith (1850-1934) Occupation: Baker and Margaret Jane Windmell (1857-1928).
Oliver’s father was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England in 1850 and his mother was born in Rose Bank Cottage, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia in 1857. His parents married on 22 September 1875 in the Church of England, South Brisbane. At the time of their marriage, both the bride and the groom resided in South Brisbane, Queensland.
Oliver had three sisters, Ellen Charlotte, Katie Liley, and Maggie Brenda; and four brothers, George Oliver Windmell, Harry William Charles, Joseph Lee, and Norman Herbert.
Oliver Harmond SMITH married Violet Maude WHITE on 11 September 1912 at the residence of the bride's mother, in Doggett Street, Fortitude Valley. At the time of the wedding, the groom resided in Jeays Street, Fortitude Valley and the bride resided with her mother.
Oliver and Violet had four children together, two boys and two girls. The two oldest children were born before he went off to World War 1.
When Oliver got married his occupation was listed as Motorman. On the 1913 Electoral Roll, he was listed as a Miller. On his enlistment papers, his occupation was listed as Miner. On the birth certificate of his youngest children in 1920, his occupation is listed as Labourer. On the 1922 Electoral Roll, he is listed as a Motor Driver, and from 1934 to 1953, his occupation is listed as Council Motor Driver.
When he enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 26 July 1917, Oliver was 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighted 135 pounds. He had brown eyes, dark hair, a tattoo on his left forearm, and a scar on the back of his neck.
At the time of his enlistment, Oliver resided at Kingsley Terrace, Manly, Qld.
Oliver enlisted in Brisbane and was assigned to the 10th Reinforcements, 52nd Battalion and he was later assigned to the 49th Battalion. Oliver held the rank of Private and his Service Number was 3694a.
The following chain of events was sourced from Oliver Harmond Smith’s Service Records (downloaded from National Archives of Australia website).
Oliver departed Australia on 31 October 1917 onboard the ship “H.M.A.T. Euripides” from the port of Sydney NSW. He disembarked at Davenport on 26 December 1917.
On 26 December 1917, Pte O.H. Smith marched into 13th Tng. Bn., Codford ex Australia. On 7 April 1918, he proceeded overseas to France ex England. On 8 April 1918, he marched into A.I.B.D., Havre ex England. On 17 April 1918, he was taken on strength of 52nd Battalion.
On 14 May 1918, Pte O.H. Smith was wounded in action – gas, France. On 15 May 1918, he was admitted to 13th A.F. Amb. - Gas Shell. Later that day he was transferred to 41st Staty. Hospital. On 23 May 1918, he was discharged to Unit, and on 29 May 1918 he was taken on Strength of 49th Battalion.
On 22 August 1918, Pte O.H. Smith was admitted to 4th A.F. Amb. - Eyes. On 24 Aug 1918 he was discharged to Duty and rejoined 49th Battalion.
On 19 February 1919, Pte. O.H. Smith proceeded on leave to U.K. On 7 March 1919, he rejoined 49th Battalion ex leave.
On 20 May 1919, Pte O.H. Smith marched out to England ex France. On 21 May 1919, he marched into No. 4 Group, Hurdcott. On 26 June 1919, he marched to No. 2 Group, Sutton Veny.
On 12 July 1919, Pte O.H. Smith left England for return to Australia per H.T. “City of Exeter”. On 26 August 1919, he disembarked at Sydney, for Brisbane.
On 27 September 1919, Pte Oliver Harmond Smith was discharged from A.I.F. in Brisbane – Termination of period of enlistment.
Oliver Harmond Smith was awarded three military metals: - “1914/15 Star”, “British War Medal”, and the “Victory Medal”.
After the war, Oliver lived in the Brisbane suburbs of Morningside and Hawthorne.
On 2 November 1955, Oliver Harmond Smith died on a boat in the Brisbane River, in the vicinity of 144 Virginia Avenue, Hawthorne. He suffered a sudden Coronary occlusion. He left behind four children and fifteen grand-children.
Oliver was buried at the age of 67 years, in the ANZAC part of the Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane (Portion 8, Section 14, Grave 46).
Submitted 3 April 2015 by Gary Nugent
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