William SMITH (4602 Gilgandra)

Per his initial military service record (Depot), William Smith was born at Gilgandra, N.S.W.  He gave his age as 19 years and 11 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer.  His description on his Certificate of medical examination was height 5 feet 8 inches tall, weight 11 stone, with a dark complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair.  His religious denomination was Presbyterian.  William Smith completed his medical examination at Gilgandra on 11^th October 1915 (the day after the Coo-ees had left Gilgandra), but was not attested by Captain Nicholas until when the Coo-ees were at Stuart Town on 20^th October 1915.  He claimed to have previous military experience in the Gilgandra Rifle Club.

It is unclear exactly where William Smith caught up with the Coo-ees, but his initial Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force form dated 11^th October 1915 was addressed to the Recruiting Officer at Eumungerie, so it appears his intent was to catch up with the Coo-ees at Eumungerie.  His parents Thomas E. Smith and Margaret E. Smith both signed this form to give their consent, as he was under 21 years of age.   His “Joined on” date on his Attestation Paper was 19^th October 1915 (when the Coo-ees were marching from Dripstone to Stuart Town).

He was known as one of Gilgandra’s 35 recruits.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp for training.

Private Smith was examined by a Medical Board at Liverpool Camp, and was discharged as medically unfit on 29^th November 1915.

On 1^st November 1916 William Smith re-enlisted at Dubbo, and was appointed to Dubbo Depot Battalion.  This Attestation Paper listed his occupation as grocer, and his age as 21 years.  He claimed that he had previous military in the A.I.F., and that he had been discharged due to sickness.

On 9^th November 1916 he was transferred to the reinforcements for the 30^th Battalion at Liverpool Camp.

On Private Smith’s embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Newtown, Gilgandra, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his mother, Mrs Emma Smith, at the same address.

Private Smith departed Sydney on the HMAT Beltana A72 on 25^th November 1916 with the 12^th reinforcements for the 30^th Battalion.

He arrived at Devonport, England, on 29^th January1917, and marched into the 8^th Training Battalion at Hurdcott, England.

On 31^st January 1917 Private Smith was sent to the Camp 10 Hospital at Hurdcott sick.  On 1^st February 1917 he was transferred to the Fovant Military Hospital with Mumps.  He was discharged on 15^th February 1917 and sent back to the 8^th Training Battalion.

Five months later, on 14^th July 1917 Private Smith was again admitted to the Camp 10 hospital sick.  He was discharged and returned to the 8^th Training Battalion on the 23^rd of July 1917.

On 29^th August 1917 Private Smith was charged with being absent without leave from midnight on 28^th August 1917 until brought back to camp under escort on 11^th September 1917.  He was awarded 14 days detention, and forfeited 33 days pay.  He entered Woking Detention Barracks to serve his sentence on 21^st September 1917.

On 5^th November 1917 Private Smith marched in to the 14^th Training Battalion at Codford, England, from the 8^th Training Battalion.

On 29^th November 1917 Private Smith was charged again with being absent without leave from midnight on 18^th November 1917 to 8.15 pm on 24^th November 1917.  He was awarded 14 days field punishment No. 2, and forfeited 20 days pay.

On 4^th of December 1917 Private Smith proceeded overseas from Southampton to France to reinforce the 56^th Battalion.

Upon arrival in France he was sent to the 5^th Division Base Depot at Le Harve, France.

On 8^th December 1917 he was sent to march out to his unit.

On 11^th December 1917, Private Smith was charged with when on active service absenting himself from entrainment on 9^th December 1917.  He was awarded 28 days field punishment No. 2 on 11^th December 1917.

Private Smith was taken on strength of the 56^th Battalion on 13^th December 1917, when it was moving from Kemmel, Belgium to Desvres, France.

On 15^th January 1918 the 56^th Battalion was conducting training at Tingry, France, when Private Smith was sent to the 5^th Australian Field Ambulance sick.  He was admitted to a General Hospital in Etaples on 17^th January 1918.  On 26^th January 1918 he was discharged from hospital to the Australian Infantry Base Depot. .

He marched out to his unit from the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Le Harve on 3^rd February 1918.  He rejoined the 56^th Battalion on the 17^th of February 1918 when it was in the vicinity of Hollebeke, Belgium.

On 20^th February 1918 Private Smith was detached for duty with the 14^th Field Company Engineers.

A week later, on 27^th February 1918 he was sent to the 14^th Australian Field Ambulance with Defective Vision.  He was discharged on the 1^st of March 1918, and rejoined the Battalion when it was in reserve at Wytschaete, Belgium.

Three weeks later, on 21^st March 1918 Private Smith was sent to the 15^th Australian Field Ambulance sick with Bronchitis.  He was moved to the 5^th Division Rest Station later that day.  On the 22^nd of March 1918 he was moved to the 13^th Casualty Clearing Station.

On 2^nd April 1918 Private Smith was taken by ambulance train and admitted sick to the 55^th General Hospital at Boulogne, France.  On 9^th April 1918 he was admitted to No. 7 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne.  He was moved to No. 10 Convalescent Depot at Ecault, France, on 11^th April 1918.

He was discharged on 25^th April 1918, and sent to the  Australian Infantry Base Depot at Le Harve, France.

On 24^th May 1918 he marched out to his unit.

On 1^st June 1918 Private Smith was charged with drunkenness on 31^st May 1918.  He was fined 10 shillings.

On 2^nd June 1918 Private Smith rejoined the 56^th Battalion when it was conducting training at Bussy Les Daours, France.

On 27^th June 1918 Private Smith was charged with being absent from 8.45 am parade without permission.   He was awarded 2 days field punishment No. 2 on 28^th June 1918.

On 21^st December 1918 the 56^th Battalion had just marched to Sivry in Belgium the day before to set up camp for the winter, when Private Smith was sent to the 56^th Casualty Clearing Station sick.  On the 23^rd of December 1918 he was admitted to the 7^th General Hospital sick at Wimereux, France.  On the 24^th of December 1918 he was transferred to the 39^th General Hospital at Le Harve, France.

Private Smith was transferred to England on the H.T. St. Patrick on 15^th January 1919.  On 16^th January 1919 he was admitted to the 1^st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford, England.

He was discharged on the 7^th of March 1919 and transferred to the Convalescent Training Depot at Parkhouse, England.

On 11^th March 1919 Private Smith was re-admitted sick to the 1^st Australian Determatological Hospital at Bulford, England.

On 11^th April 1919 Private Smith was charged with being out of bounds and being in possession of a Khaki uniform whilst a patient at the 1^st Australian Dermatological Hospital.  He was awarded 27 days detention and fined 27 days pay.

On 12^th April 1919 Private Smith was admitted to the Lewes Detention Barracks to undergo his sentence.

He was released on 7^th May 1919, and returned to the 1^st Australian Determatological Hospital.

On 10^th May 1919 Private Smith was transferred to the 1^st Australian General Hospital at Sutton Veny, England.

He was discharged on 2^nd June 1919, and transferred to the Number 5 Group at Weymouth, England.

Private Smith commenced his return to Australia aboard the H.M.A.T. Friedrichsruh on 8^th July 1919.

He arrived in Australia on 4^th September 1919, and was discharged at Sydney on 12^th October 1919.