SMITH, Joseph
| Service Number: | 3511 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 May 1917, Warrugul, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 58th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cudgewa, Victoria, Australia, 1899 |
| Home Town: | Allambee, Baw Baw, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia, 24 February 1955, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Ferntree Gully Cemetery, Victoria Methodist Section A, Row 7, Plot 19 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 31 May 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3511, 58th Infantry Battalion, Warrugul, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1917: | Involvement Private, 3511, 58th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Melbourne embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jul 1917: | Embarked Private, 3511, 58th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Melbourne, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Joseph Smith Reg No. 3511 was the son of Joseph Smith Snr (formerly of Tarrawingee a selector) and Ellen Smith. The Smith family including 13 children moved to Lot 17 on the Allambee Estate in 1912, having previously farmed at Cudgewa, then Whitfield and various locations in Wangaratta and Yarra Glen.
Joseph enlisted on 31st May 1917 in Warragul aged 18yrs 5 months with the 9th/58th Battalion. His parents reluctantly signed consent papers thinking the war would be over before Joe finished his training – they were wrong. Following training at Broadmeadows he embarked from Australia 16th July on the A16 Port Melbourne from Sydney and arrived in Liverpool 16th September. He was hospitalised 25th September due to mumps and on discharge was transferred to 15th Training Battalion. 8th January 1918 he proceeded overseas to France and was Taken on Strength of 58th Battalion. 9th August 1918 he was wounded in action, receiving a gunshot wound to his right arm, resulting in a fractured elbow. He was hospitalised, returning to England 13th August for treatment. He was discharged from hospital 3rd December and embarked for return to Australia 4th January 1919, disembarking in Melbourne 20th February. He was formally discharged from the AIF 13th June 1919 – medically unfit due to disability – GSW Left Elbow.
In 1925 Joseph married Blanche Coombes of Yarrawonga. Joseph was farming in Monbulk. They had one daughter Ellen who died in 1942. Joseph died 24th Feb 1955 and is buried at Ferntree Gully Cemetery.
Courtesy of Avenel
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