SMITH, William Henry
| Service Number: | Depot |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 July 1915, Geelong, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Depot Battalion |
| Born: | Lancefield Junction, Victoria, Australia, 1883 |
| Home Town: | Sunbury, Hume, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Bolinda State School |
| Occupation: | Asylum attendant |
| Died: | Pneumonia, No 5 Australian General Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 15 August 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Gisborne Cemetery R.C. Q. 395 |
| Memorials: | Bolinda State School Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, Depot Battalion , Geelong, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| Date unknown: | Involvement Private, Depot |
Help us honour William Henry Smith's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Ross Martin
William Henry SMITH was born at Lancefield Junction and, after working at the Sunbury Asylum was working as an attendant at the Inebriate Home in Lara when he enlisted on 12/7/1915. He was 32years old and unmarried.His next of kin was his Mother, Mrs Honora Smith of Ligar Street, Sunbury.
He went into camp but sickened and was admitted to the 5th Australian General Hospital, Melbourne where he died on 15/8/1915 from pneumonia and heart failure.
William was buried at the Gisborne Cemetery on Tuesday 17th August 1915.
Biography contributed by Peter Sneddon
William Henry Smith and Francis Smith were brothers born to Honorah (Norah) Murphy and Patrick Smith, a carpenter in Bolinda (married in 1880). William Henry was born in Bolinda/Lancefield Junction in 1883 and Francis in Riddells Creek in 1891. Norah and Patrick had at least six other children as well: John Patrick (b. 1881), Catherine Bridge (Katie) (b. 1885), James Edward (b. 1887), Anna (b. 1889), Elizabeth Mary (Bessie) (b. 1893) and Randall Thomas (b. 1896). William attended Bolinda School sometime between 1885 and 1894, and Frank between 1895 and 1898.
William was the first of the brothers to enlist in the armed forces. He was 32 years old when he enlisted in July 1915. He had previously been working as an attendant at an Inebriates Home in Lara. However, one month after his enlistment he was admitted to the No. 5 Australian General Hospital with pneumonia. Three days later, on 15 August 1915, he died of heart failure. Honorah received a Memorial Plaque and Scroll in memory of her son.