Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert’s family, headed by Amos and Susan Edith Smith lived in Watervale, between Clare and Auburn in the Clare Valley. Albert was the fourth of six children, born on the 28th September 1897. His siblings included Sarah Emily, Walter Amos, William Arthur Edwin and Hilda Jane. All the children attended the local Watervale School. Important days, including Arbour Day and Empire Day, plus the end of year were celebrated, the latter with concerts and items by students.
In April 1905, Albert’s paternal grandfather, William, had visited the family at Watervale and died unexpectedly. Despite the suddenness, an inquest was not held. Five months later and just weeks before Albert’s eighth birthday, his 43-year-old father died in September and was buried at Watervale. Conditions were challenging for the family.
When the ‘War to End All Wars’ began, Bert’s older brother, 19-year-old William Arthur B. enlisted on the 18th April 1916. He was given the number 3315 in the 32nd Infantry Battalion, embarking on the 27th June 1916 . William arrived in Etaples in February ’17 and within eight months was killed on the 1st October. Whilst his records show he was buried, in the frenetic fighting that continued, his burial place was unable to be found, but his identity disc was returned to the family. His name is now engraved at Ypres, Menin Gate with thousands of others whose last resting places are also unknown. Susan, being illiterate, signed acknowledgement of receiving his Victory Medal and Memorial Scroll with a neat cross. William was one of four young men from the Watervale area killed at a similar time.
Albert, known as Bert or Alb, worked as a fruit grower at Monash in the Murray area. He married Ida Mills Hill with the two having five children, Ronald Vernon, Gwendoline Joyleen Velma, Milton, Joylene Valerie and Kinton. Perhaps wishing to follow in his brother, William’s footsteps, Bert, enlisted at Glossop on the 16th June, 1940 as SX5218 and was placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Bert was ‘creative’ with his birthdate, choosing the year of his young sister, Hilda Jane’s birth, 1901 and that he was therefore 38 years old, rather than 43.
While on pre-embarkation leave in October, a huge crown gathered at the Berri Theatre with a social in honour of the 20 new enlistees. This was also combined with a farewell for a highly respected local identity, Mrs. P. H. Knappstein, who had been a leading supporter in organising socials to soldiers. A roll call of the ‘Young Diggers’ were made (25 in all, but with five unable to be present.) These included twelve who were also from Bert’s 2/48th Battalion. SX9384 Private Arville Todd, (later died of wounds), SX7278 Robert Tipper, SX8063 John Hood (later died of wounds), SX7964 Tom (Diver) Derrick (later died of wounds), SX9562 Charles Butcher, SX7067 Peter Anderson, SX7614 Thomas Johns, SX6832 Walter Fennell, SX8411 A.R. Rix, SX7242 Paul Pfeiffer, SX7773 Samuel Parbs and Bert.
Early in his service, Bert challenged routine with several absences from duty and forfeiting pay on each occasion. He finally boarded the Stratheden in November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. Bert became part of the Head Quarter Guard Battalion, embarking for Greece at the end of March ’41 and being involved in the battle of Greece. Records indicate that Bert was wounded at this time. By the beginning of June ’41,Bert was reported missing, with confirmation being received from the Red Cross on the 24th that he was a Prisoner of War and interned at Corinthia. Three months later he was transferred to Stalag 18A at Wolfsberg. He was fortunate to survive a typhus epidemic in December (which had a greater effect on Russian prisoners whose conditions in the camp were significantly inferior.)
Albert’s mother, 79-year-old Susan, died on 7th May ‘43 believing that Bert was still a POW. The Advertiser recognized both her sons service in the two wars. ‘SMITH,—On May 7. at Watervale. Susan Edith, wife of late Amos Smith, and loving mother of Emily, Walter. William (Ist AXF.) Albert (prisoner of war) and Jane. 79 years. Resting.’

By the end of that month, a report was first received that Bert had been repatriated to Egypt early in November as part of a POW exchange after the Italian armistice. He sailed home on a hospital ship, disembarking at Melbourne on the 25th January, ’44. His infected right thumb (which later developed into osteomyelitis, a painful bone infection,) was treated before he was able to return home on seasonal leave. Niggling health issues of a hernia, deafness and fibrositis in his back all contributed to Bert being discharged on the 1st December, ’44, soon after turned 47.
Frustratingly, during warfare, records were often written after events. Bert understood he received a promotion to Lance Corporal on the recommendation of Major William James Guy (who was also a POW) on the 16th April ’41. However, with such intense fighting at the time and in following years, and with both men being taken POWs, the details were not available or documented when Bert attempted to follow this up in September ’44. Despite a handwritten letter from Major Guy suggesting that Bert was recommended for a promotion, suggesting it was possible that ‘the documentation did not reach the CO of the Bn’. Without official records to this effect, Bert was discharged in December that year, still with the rank of Private.
Life was to deal a further cruel hand to Bert and Ida with the death of their 21-year-old daughter, Joyleen in August ’56.
Bert lived to be 90 and died on the 20th March 1988. He now rests in his original hometown cemetery at Watervale. Ida lived for a further eight months, then aged 85 died on the 30th November 1988.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.