SMITH, Frederick Irwern
| Service Number: | 2674 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 4th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, 1898 |
| Home Town: | Cooma, Cooma-Monaro, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | St Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Redfern, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, 15 April 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2674, 4th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Aug 1915: | Involvement Private, 2674, 4th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Aug 1915: | Embarked Private, 2674, 4th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Sydney | |
| 15 Apr 1917: | Involvement Corporal, 2674, 4th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2674 awm_unit: 4th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-04-15 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Born in 1898 Frederick was only 17 years of age when he enlisted in June 1915. His mother Mary had passed away when he was only 1 year old. It appears he was looked after by an older sister as he named her as next of kin. He served at Gallipoli for several months and fought in France during 1916. He was evacuated to England for several months during the cold 1916 winter suffering with trench feet.
He was promoted to Corporal and was still only 19 years of age when he was killed during the German attack on Lagnicourt. Although his service file states he was buried in the Boursies cemetery, along with other men of the 4th Battalion, his grave was never found.
His older brother 2002 Private Cecil Smith 18th Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Bullecourt less than a month later on 12 May 1917. Their father Michael also died in late 1917.