SMITH, James Olivant
| Service Numbers: | 231, Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 34th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | England, United Kingdom, 11 November 1879 |
| Home Town: | Rabaul, New Britain, Blanche Bay, Papua New Guinea |
| Schooling: | National School Skegness England; Technical College Mt. Morgan |
| Occupation: | Soldier, Overseer, Manager |
| Died: | Aboard POW ship Montevideo Maru , At Sea, 1 July 1942, aged 62 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Was living and working in Rabaul PNG when taken as civilian POW by the Japanese in WW2 and was being transported aboart the Montevideo Maru when accidentally sunk by allied forces on 1 Jul 1942.Memorialised at AWM and by CWGC. |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 231, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 231, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 notes 5th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 6 Mar 1901 aboard Templemore arriving Port Elizabeth 1 Apr 1901. | |
| 5 May 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 231, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 491 notes 5th QIB embarked at Cape Town 27 Mar 1902 aboard St Andrew returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 30 Apr 1902, disbanded 5 May 1902. |
World War 1 Service
| 2 May 1916: | Embarked Officer, 34th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Sydney | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1916: | Involvement 34th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
He also served in WW1, Lieutenant, 50th Battalion AIF.
When James Olivant Smith enlisted in 1901 in the 5th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as Mr. J. O. Smith, "Croft Farm", Lincolnshire, England. It appears after venturing from England he had spent time in the Rockhampton and Mount Morgan area and was residing at Roma when he enlisted.
James Olivant Smith was born on 11 Nov 1879 in England, a son to James Oliphant Smith and Mary Smith (nee Fanthrope). He married Robina (Ruby) Reaside Paul in 1915 at Mosman, Sydney, NSW, and they had 2 children.
When he enlisted on 23 Feb 1916 for WW1 he noted on his Attestation Form that; he was born at Skegness, England; he worked as a Company Plantation Manager; he had previously served in the Boer War; and he was married and living at Mosman, NSW. On his Application for a Commission in the AIF dated 30 Apr 1916 he gave his date of birth as 11 Nov 1879. It appears he may have been spending time between Australia and New Guinea where the plantations associated with his work were located.
He was living and working at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea as a "Native Overseer", Plantation Manager when the Japanese entered WW2 and attacked PNG. He was taken as a civilian POW by the Japanese and was being transported on the ship Montevideo Maru when it was accidentally sunk at sea by the alllies on 1 Jul 1942 which resulted in his death.
(sources- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 498; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 2 p. 78; National Archives Australia- WW1 service records).
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