Gordon Archibald SMITH

Gordon Archibald SMITH Update Details

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SMITH, Gordon Archibald

Service Number:	NX26819
Enlisted:	20 June 1940, Paddington, New South Wales
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	2nd/19th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Burwood, New South Wales, Australia, 18 January 1902
Home Town:	Summer Hill, Ashfield, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Not yet discovered
Died:	Illness whilst a Prisoner of the Japanese , Borneo, 8 March 1945, aged 43 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God" Labuan Memorial, Labuan Memorial, Labuan, Malaysia
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Private, NX26819
20 Jun 1940:	Enlisted Private, NX26819, Paddington, New South Wales
20 Jun 1940:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, NX26819, 2nd/19th Infantry Battalion
8 Mar 1945:	Involvement Private, NX26819, 2nd/19th Infantry Battalion, Prisoners of War

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Biography contributed by John Edwards

"...NX26819 Private Gordon Archibald Smith, 2/19th Battalion, Australian Infantry. He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW camp in north Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of E Force. The 500 Australian and 500 British POW's who made up E Force, left Changi on 28 March 1943, on board the S.S. DeKlerk arriving at Berhala Island (adjacent to Sandakan Harbour) on 15 April 1943. The POW's were held there until 5 June, when they were taken by barge to Sandakan. The next day they were transferred to the 8 Mile Camp, which was about half a mile from the B Force compound. Private Smith, aged 43, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 8 March 1945. He was the son of Archibald and Sarah Smith, and the husband of May Smith, of Cronulla, NSW. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 13..." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

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