Arthur William Smith

Submitted by wollongongcityl... on Wed, 21/05/2014 - 12:26

First Name:

Arthur

Middle Name:

William

Last Name:

Smith

Mother's Name:

Isabel Smith

Father's Name:

Richard Smith

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, February 6, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Unit:

18th Battalion

Company:

C Company

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Star 1914/15 Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, August 27, 1915

Place of Death:

Gallipoli

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Arthur William Smith was born in 1894 to Richard and Isabel Smith. He had a brother Stanley, who was born in Woonona 1890 and grew up in Scarborough.

He enlisted on 6 February, 1915 at the age of 20 and left Sydney on 25 June. He joined the 18th Infantry Battalion, C Company.

He was wounded in action which resulted in his death on 27 August 1915. He was killed in Gallipoli and is commemorated at Lone Pine Memorial 63.

After his enlistment, his parents left Scarborough and moved to Thirroul.

According to the National Australian Archives, Arthur was listed as wounded on 28 August 1915 then it was fixed to wounded and missing. A court inquiry on 10 April 1917 stated that there was no evidence in the Battalion available regarding Smith and they did not arrive at a verdict; it was only on 25 September that year that the court confirmed he had been killed in action due to evidence provided by W R Birwood (Lt-Gen) on 23 Septmeber.

2 May 1916, Isabel Smith wrote a letter to Melbourne Barracks stating that a Private Brown, comrade of Arthur in his Battalion witnessed his death and wrote to her shortly after.

His family received his Star 1914/15, British and Victory Medals on his behalf.

NB. This image has been shared by Wollongong City Gallery following the War and Remembrance project (October 2003 – January 2004).

The purpose of the project was to acknowledge the contributions of Illawarra residents in various wars, conflicts and peacekeeping missions from the Boer War to the present day.

If anyone has any information or additional photographs of these soldiers and nurses, please contact us.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, SMITH A W

Australian War Memorial, Embarkation Rolls – Arthur William Smith, Australian War Memorial Canberra, 2014, http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1794216/, viewed 21 May 2014.

Australian War Memorial, Roll of Honour – Arthur William Smith, Australian War Memorial Canberra, 2014, http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1661819/, viewed 21 May 2014.

Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing, 992 Private Arthur William Smith, Australian War Memorial Canberra, 2014, http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1059728--1-.PDF, viewed 21 May 2014