SMITH, Louis Lionel
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 April 1887 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Melbourne C of E Grammar School; Edinburgh University |
| Occupation: | Agriculturist |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 2 April 1917, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
H.A.C. Cemetery, Ecoust-St. Mein, France II E 3 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Jun 1916: | Involvement Captain, 38th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jun 1916: | Embarked Captain, 38th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Melbourne | |
| 2 Apr 1917: | Involvement Captain, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 51 Battalion awm_rank: Captain awm_died_date: 1917-04-02 |
Help us honour Louis Lionel Smith's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
LOUIS LIONEL SMITH who was killed in action in France on 2nd April 1917 was the son of the late Dr. L. L. Smith. He was born in 1887 and entered the School in 1902 and was there till 1907. He took an interest in the Cadet Corps, of which he was Lieutenant when he left.
On leaving School he went to Edinburgh University and later went for military training to Hythe, where he obtained a certificate as
instructor of musketry. He obtained certificates at 18 schools of instruction and served in the Royal Scots, the Devons, and the Territorials.
He had returned to Australia, and in 1912 was gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Commonwealth Military Forces, in 55th Infantry. At the outbreak of war he volunteered for active service, and was in camp at Broadmeadows, Seymour and Bendigo.
He was gazetted to a Captaincy, and among other appointments was Adjutant Depot Reinforcements, Camp Adjutant, Staff Officer Reinforcements and Staff Officer for Training.
From June 1915 to December 1915 he was in sole command of Reinforcements, having under his control 5,000 men. Prior to embarkation on 21st June he was on 1st May 1916 attached to the 38th Battalion, but on 31st October 1916 was transferred to the 51st Battalion.
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
It is firmly believed that the name of Captain Leslie Smith on the Chagford chapel war memorial in Devon relates to Australian Captain Louis Lionel Smith of the 51st Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. He spent some time in the United Kingdom [England and Scotland] prior to WWI and did in fact serve with the 1st Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, in 1910. He was 30.
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