SMITH, Allen
| Service Numbers: | 5208, 5209 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 January 1916, 16th Reinforcements |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Norton Summit, South Australia, 1 July 1887 |
| Home Town: | Norton Summit, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Market Gardener |
| Died: | Service-related illness, Norton Summit, South Australia, 3 March 1921, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: |
Norton Summit Cemetery Grave 226 (GRM/5*) |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5208, 10th Infantry Battalion, 16th Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5209, 10th Infantry Battalion, 16th Reinforcements HMAT Shropshire ex Adelaide No Embarkation Roll import | |
| 29 Jun 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 5208, 10th Infantry Battalion, Discharged Medically Unfit as a result of pleurisy |
Non Warlike Service
| 3 Mar 1921: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5208, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5208 awm_unit: 10 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1921-03-03 |
|---|
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
5208 / 5209 Private Allan SMITH (1887-1921)
Born and raised at Norton Summit in the Adelaide Hills east of the city of the same name, Allan Smith worked as a market gardener, part of the strong horticulture industry in the area.
He enlisted in 1916 aged 28 and embarked for service overseas in late March.
As a portent of what was to follow, he was admitted to hospital in Cairo on the 16th April 1916, with mild influenza.
He was later transferred to England to undertake training in preparation for deployment to the Front, but ultimately that did not occur.
By October was hospitalised once again this time with pneumonia, apparently from the Base Depot at Etaples in France (per service records). His diagnosis was elevated to 'Pleurisy'. He was admitted and treated at the East Suffolk Hospital at Ipswich. By December he was convalescing.
In November 1916 a medical report classified him as Medically Unfit for service and some time early in 1917 it was decided that he should be returned to Australia on order to improve his recovery and he duly embarked.
He returned to Australia on the MV Benalla on 12 April 1917 and was admitted to the 7th Australian General Hospital at Keswick Barracks.
On the 29th June 1917 he was classified as Medically Unfit and discharged accordingly. His illness was to foreshorten his life, succumbing on 3 March 1921.
Because his death fell inside the threshold for classification as elgible for inclusion on the Roll of Honour is duly recorded.
Compiled by Steve Larkins 4 Jan 2020 from his Service Record
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