BANKS-SMITH, Sydney Harold
| Service Number: | 2884 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 March 1915, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | First Class Air Mechanic |
| Last Unit: | Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
| Born: | Cundletown, New South Wales, Australia, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Concord, Canada Bay, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Grammar School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Mechanical Engineer |
| Died: | Accidental (Injuries), Leighterton, England, United Kingdom, 3 July 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Leighterton Church Cemetery, Gloucestershire, England Military, Grave 4, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Pambula District Soldiers Memorial, Sydney Grammar School WW1 Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2884, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2884, 5th Field Ambulance, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ajana embarkation_ship_number: A31 public_note: '' | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2884, 5th Field Ambulance, HMAT Ajana, Sydney | |
| 3 Jul 1918: | Involvement First Class Air Mechanic, 2884, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2884 awm_unit: Australian Flying Corps awm_rank: Air Mechanic Class I awm_died_date: 1918-07-03 |
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Sydney Harold BANKS-SMITH was born in 1893 in Cundletown, near Taree NSW
His parents were Harold BANKS-SMITH and Florence DIXON - after Harold died Florence remarried in 1902 to Harold LODGE
Sydney enlisted on 31st March, 1915 with the 5th Field Ambulance - Unit embarked from Sydney on HMAT Ajana on 31st May, 1915
Sydney died as a result of an plane accident on 3rd July, 1918 and is buried in Leighterton Church Cemetery, Gloucestershire, England
He is also listed in the Australian War Memorial and the Roll of Honour at Sydney Grammar School whcih he attended in 1906
FIND A GRAVE - Photo of Sydney and also his Headstone
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=108669791 (www.findagrave.com)
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Sydney Morning Herald 16th July, 1918
ROLL OF HONOUR
BANKS-SMITH July 3, 1918 at Leighterton, Gloucestershire, died of injuries received in an accident. Sydney Harold Banks-Smith aged 25 years. Australian Flying Corps, Service, Gallipoli, France, England
"The path of duty was his way to glory"
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The Mercury Hobart, 14th August, 1918
ROLL OF HONOUR
BANKS-SMITH On July 3, 1918 died of injuries received in an aeroplane accident at Leighterton, Gloucestershire, England. Sydney Harold Banks-SMITH aged 25 years, Australian Flying Corp (late 5th Field Ambulance) Served in Egypt, Gallipoli and France Elder son of Mrs. H Lodge and the late Harold Banks-Smith, and grandson of the late Canon Banks-Smith, Hobart
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In a letter to his family he described his experiences as a stretcher bearer at Gallipoli up to the last night of the evacuation. Being an ambulance driver in the Middle East and France and then an Air Medic with the Australian Flying Corp at Leighterton, England where he was killed in an aircraft training accident on 3rd July 1918. According to his Red Cross Wounded & Missing File he was taking a test flight with another pilot for the purpose of testing a machine gun and was diving at the target when the machine collapsed and crashed into the ground killing both men instantly with the impact. He was well iiked at the aerodrome and many of his friends attended a full military funeral with the informant remarking that it was hard to think he went through Gallipoli & France in some of the tougher corners and then to be killed here
PHOTO & more information from Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P01456.008 (www.awm.gov.au)
Click images to start slideshow.