Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Mayor's son, and first Orange native to fall on the Battle-field.

Buried in a lone grave near TaffelKop

Sid was born at Orange in 1880 and his father was a local businessman and Alderman.  He embarked with the 2nd Contingent aboard the 'Southern Cross' on 17 January 1900. Contracting enteric fever he was invalided to Australia and was one of the first Orange men to return home from the Boer War.  Once he had recovered from the effects of enteric fever, he re-enlisted for service with the 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles, D Squadron as Sergeant and was promoted to Acting Sergeant-Major and had been recommended for a commission in that rank when he was wounded in action at Exceuw Kop on 11 October 1901.  He died from his wounds the following day and was buried near Taffel Kop.  At the time of his death, his father was the Mayor of Orange.  Sid qualified for the Queen's South Africa medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Driefontein and the South Africa date clasp 1901. - Orange Remembers Boer War 1899-1902 by Heather Nicholls ISBN 0-9578654-4-9

IN MEMORY OF
THE LATE SERGEANT S. J. SMITH
The worst feats of Orange residents were realized yesterday as to the sad fate of Sergeant S. J. Smith son of Mayor Smith and a native of Orange,  when his father received the following letter from the authorities:—
"The Treasury, Sydney, 21-10-01
Dear Sir,—I am directed by the Hon, See, Premier of New South Wales, to convey to you an expression of his sincere sympathy at the loss you have  sustained through the death of your son, 264 Sergeant Sidney J. Smith of the New South Wales Mounted Infantry, whilst on active service in South  Africa in the defence of his King and country, and to add that may be some consolation to remember that he went forth to assist in the noble work of  cementing the bonds whioh unite an Empire whose mission is civilization and freedom. Yours respectfully, E. J THOMAS, Captain."

Mr Smith received the morning before a tender sympathetic letter from our late P.M., Mr J. L. King, who, though not sure of deceased's identity, feared  the worst, and wrote accordingly as a personal friend of Mr Smith's who, with him saw his son off on his fatal mission. This youthful soldier who has  paid the final grand tribute to his King and country was one of the first to volunteer for the war, relinquishing a good position to do and dare in a foreign land. On his first arrival in South Africa he partook in the great march on Bloomfontein amongst his earliest engagements being one at Driefontein, for  which he was to have received a medal, the medal now lying in Sydney for him. Poplar Grove and Eisfontein also saw this Orange native in the victors ranks. Entering Bloomfontein with Lord Roberts he went from there to Kimberley under Lieutenant Harriott (afterwards killed) to whom poor "Sid" was  much attached. There he contracted fever and was sent to the Naauport Hospital; recovering, he was sent to the convalescent hospital at Capetown, and while there, strange to say he read an account of his own death from enteric fever in Lloyd's weekly. He was sent home from there. Disgusted at this untimely end of his warlike career, and desirous of seeing and doing more, he sought and obtained an appointment as Sergeant  when the War Office called for more volunteers, and returned to the seat of operations, which has resulted in this sad termination of his earthly career.

The deceased was 21 years of age in August last, he was born in Orange and lived here all his life. The last letter received from him acknowledged a  birthday present received from nis mother, saying he had forgotten all about his birthday, and lest he should forget the birthday of those at home he  wished them there and then all many happy returns. His letters of late have been particularly interesting, but owing to his expressed wish, his father  refrained from, publishing them. For the last few months he had been acting as Sergeant-Major, and was recommended for a commission, This pathetic incident brings the horrors of war horribly home to the people of Orange, and all we feel sure, sorrow with Mayor Smith and his family in their affliction. The book of life of a young man full of promise in the career he had chosen, has closed, and we who sit at home and bask in the security of the shade  of a mighty empire, cannot but mourn thfe tragic end of one who has laid down his life to uphold it's prestige and maintain our security.