Tag Archives: Melcombe Regis Cemetery

John Thomas SMITH

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4891), John Thomas Smith was born at Wigan, Lancashire, England. He gave his age as 30 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as miner. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 7 inches tall, weight 10 stone 7 lbs., with a fair complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He completed his medical on the 16^th October 1915 at Wellington, where he joined the Coo-ee March, and was attested by Captain Nicholas on the 19^th October 1915 at Stuart Town. He claimed to have had no previous military service.

After completing the march he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Queen Street, Wellington, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as friend, L. A. Walters, Anhitn, 6 Fernbank Street, Marrickville, Sydney, N.S.W.

Private Smith departed Sydney on the HMAT Star of England on the 8^th of March 1916. He arrived in Egypt on the 11^th April 1916.

On the 25^th April 1916 he was transferred from the 4^th Training Battalion at Tel-el Kibir to the 4^th Pioneer Battalion, where he was then taken on strength at Serapeum on the 29^th April 1916.

On the 4^th June 1916 Private Smith left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France, arriving at Marseille on the 11^th June 1916.

Private Smith was one of four soldiers in his unit wounded in action on 10^th January 1917, receiving a high explosive wound to his stomach, whilst the 4^th Pioneer Battalion was undertaking work on the railway line near the village of Longueval, France. He was transferred to the 25^th Ambulance Train on 11^th January 1917 and admitted to the 12^th General Hospital at Rouen on 12^th January 1917 with a gun shot wound to the abdomen wall. He was transferred to the Convalescent Depot at Rouen on 24^th January 1917, then to Base Depot “A” on 30^th January 1917. He was transferred from the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot back to his unit on 15^th February 1917, rejoining from wounded on 17^th January 1917.

He reported to hospital sick from the field on 29^th June 1917, and was admitted to 39^th General Hospital at Havre on 3^rd July 1917. He marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot from hospital on 23^rd July 1917. He then was readmitted to 39^th General Hospital on 3^rd August 1917, then on 31^st August 1917 he was discharged, and returned to the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot. On 7^th September he marched out of the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot, then returned to his unit in the field on 10^th September 1917.

On the 25^th October 1917 he was admitted to the 12^th Canadian Field Ambulance with an accidentally dislocated right shoulder, then was transferred on the 26^th October 1917 to the 13^th Canadian Field Ambulance. On the 27^th October he was transferred to 36^th Ambulance Train, then admitted to 6^th Convalescent Depot on 31^st October 1917. He was discharged from the hospital at Etaples on the 8^th November 1917, then marched in to the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Havre on 10^th November 1917. He returned to his unit in the field on 14^th November 1917.

On 22^nd February 1918 he reported to 13^th Australian Field Ambulance sick, and was admitted to the 4^th Australian Field Ambulance with Scabies. He returned to his unit on 28^th February 1918.

Private Smith’s service record reports he was ‘wounded in action’ on the 5^th April 1918, and was admitted to the 13^th Australian Field Ambulance. According to the 4^th Pioneer Battalion’s war diary, on 5^th April 1918 the battalion was in camp near Henencourt Wood when it was shelled by German artillery. Private J. T. Smith is listed in the Casualties list as wounded by ‘H. E. Shell’. He was admitted to 22^nd General Hospital at Camiers with a gun shot wound dislocated right shoulder on 6^th April 1918. He was transferred to a hospital ship on 8^th April 1918 and embarked for England, being admitted to Dorset County Hospital at Dorchester on 9^th April 1918.

Private Smith died of his wounds on 23^rd April, 1918, of gun shot wound dislocation of right shoulder (haemoptysis), at Dorset County Hospital, Dorset, England.

John Thomas Smith’s headstone at Melcombe Regis Cemetery, Weymouth, England (Photograph: H. Thompson 25/8/2014)

Private Smith was buried with full military honours on the 27^th April, 1918 at Melcombe Regis Cemetery, Weymouth, Dorset, England.