Frederick William Alexander Smith

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 04/12/2017 - 11:35

First Name:

Frederick

Middle Name:

William Alexander

Last Name:

Smith

Date of Birth:

Tuesday, June 11, 1889

Mother's Name:

Mary Smith nee Alexander

Father's Name:

James Smith

Date Enlisted:

Tuesday, June 22, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

53rd Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Wednesday, July 19, 1916

Place of Death:

Fromelles, France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Frederick Smith (Service No 2910) was born in Greenock, Scotland. In 1915 he married Annie Day, however, on his Attestation Papers, Frederick stated he was single.

He enlisted at the age of 27, when he was working as a labourer, and initially listed his brother as his next-of-kin. His papers were later changed, listing his wife as next-of-kin, with a number of address changes for her, one of which was Albion Park Police Station in N.S.W.

Frederick embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A8 Argyllshire with 1st Battalion, 9th Reinforcement on 30th September 1915. He arrived in Egypt in early November but it is unclear if he was sent to Gallipoli.

On 13th February 1916 he was transfered to 53rd Battalion and arrived in France with them on 28th June 1916. Frederick was fighting with D Company at Fromelles on 19th July 1916 when a fellow soldier, who was wounded in both legs, witnessed him being knocked down by a shell explosion, fall into a creek and drown. Subsequently there is no known grave for Frederick.

Frederick's service and sacrifice is commemorated on the VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, SMITH F W A