SMITH, William Beadle
| Service Number: | 39360 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 May 1941, Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Victoria Park, Western Australia, 1 September 1909 |
| Home Town: | Rose Park, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Rose Park, City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, South Australia, Australia, 2 August 1954, aged 44 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 13 May 1941: | Involvement Sergeant, 39360 | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 May 1941: | Enlisted Adelaide | |
| 13 May 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 39360 | |
| 26 Nov 1945: | Discharged |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Rebecca James
William Beadle SMITH died suddenly aged only 44, almost nine years after discharge from the Royal Australian Air Force, in which he served in WWII.
He died at the home he shared with his parents, 7 Victoria Avenue, Rose Park, Adelaide, South Australia. Electoral rolls of 1939, 1941 and 1943 showed he shared this home with his parents, Sydney Ernest Smith (a turner by trade) and Isabel Smith née Beadle (home duties) (source: Ancestry.com 'Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980'). The death notice says he was their only son, deeply mourned. There was a private burial.
He is buried in West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, in the plot adjacent to his parents. The three of them share a gravestone.
In addition, there is a monument to him in the The South Australian Garden of Remembrance, located within Centennial Park, Adelaide. The South Australian Garden of Remembrance remembers the service of thousands of South Australians.
There are some discrepancies with dates in death notices and the gravestone.
The death registration* and the death notices* say he died on 2-Aug-1954, however, the headstone in West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, says he died 1-Aug-1954.
A death notice* says he was aged 46, however, he was 44, almost 45, using the dates from official records. His 1909 birth registration* in Western Australia (WA) says year of birth was 1909, in Victoria Park. Consistent with this is his WWII record in Ancestry.com 'Australia, World War II Military Service Records, 1939-1945', which has birth date 1-Sep-1909, in Victoria Park, WA.
Therefore, he was aged 44 (not 46) when he died, on 2-Aug-1954 (not 1-Aug-1954).
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* Western Australia Birth Registration Number: 101265, Registration Year: 1909, from Western Australian Online Index at https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justice/online-index-search-tool
* South Australian Death Registration, Death Place: South Australia; Registration Date: 1951-1955; Registration Place: Australia' Page number: 4289; Volume Number:814 from Ancestry.com 'Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985'
* DEATH NOTICE
Newspaper details: Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Thu 5 Aug 1954, Page 39, Family Notices
Available online in Trove @ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/93912715/8682206
SMITH. — On August 2 (suddenly), at his residence, 7 Victoria avenue, Rose Park, William Beadle, dearly loved only son of Isabel and the late Sydney Ernest Smith. Aged 46 years. Deeply mourned.
* FUNERAL NOTICE
Newspaper details: The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Wed 4 Aug 1954, Page 24, Family Notices
Available online in Trove @ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/47624841?searchTerm=W1328
FUNERAL NOTICES
SMITH.— THE FRIENDS of the late Mr. WILLIAM BEADLE SMITH, of 7 Victoria avenue, Rose Park, are respectfully informed that his Remains were privately laid to rest on TUESDAY, August 3, in the West Terrace Cemetery. Rev. P. N. Potter officiated.
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