SMITH, Robert Jeadon
| Service Number: | 6592 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 March 1916, Mirboo North, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Thorpdale, Victoria, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Mirboo North, Latrobe - Victoria, Australia, Victoria |
| Schooling: | State School, Victoria |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 20 September 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Hallston and District WW1 Roll of Honor, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6592, 5th Infantry Battalion, Mirboo North, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 6592, 5th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 6592, 5th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Robert “Bert” Jeadan Smith, Regimental Number 6592 was the youngest son of William Liddle and Agnes Smith. William was born in Ararat in 1858 and married Agnes in Ballarat in 1884. They moved to Thorpdale following their marriage where 6 children were born including Robert their youngest in 1894. In 1895 they moved to Lot 39D at Allambee South, off the road now known as Old Yarragon Road. On 9th October 1895 William died of a fractured skull, caused by a falling limb striking his head whilst engaged in cutting scrub.
Agnes was granted a lease in her own right on 21st April 1896 of 160 acres at Allambee South being lots 81B and 81C which abutted the existing lot of 39D (Allambee East Parish Map 1890 and 1905). Agnes established the first Allambee South school on this site, School No 3075 which opened for the 1900 school year with 24 pupils which included the 6 Smith children.
Robert aged 21 enlisted on 1st March 1916 at Mirboo North. His stated occupation was farmer and “Blacksmith”. He was described as 5’8” fair complexion, brown hair and grey eyes. He was attached to the 10th Field Company, Engineers, and in April 1916 he transferred to the Service Corps reinforcements. In August 1916, at Broadmeadows, Victoria, he was transferred to the 21st Reinforcements of the 5th Battalion and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Nestor (A71) on 2 October 1916. After training in England, Robert arrived in France in February 1917, joining the 5th Battalion at the front at the Hindenburg Line and later at Bullecourt. On 20 September 1917 the battalion was in the main attacking force on the first day of the battle of Menin Road, (Third Battle of Ypres), in Belgium. The battalion achieved its objective about 1km from the start line within a few hours and dug in to defend the line. Later that day, as a
member of 15 Platoon D Company, Robert was manning a Lewis machine gun with Corporal William Mazelin near Black Watch Corner in front of Polygon Wood and about 250 yards behind the front line then occupied by 7th and 8th Battalions. They were defending against an expected German counter attack when a bursting shell killed them both.
They were buried on the battlefield alongside others of the same battalion killed in action. Both Robert and Corporal Mazelin have no known grave and they are commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Courtesy of Avenel
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