The AIF Project

Edward George SMITH

Regimental number4886
Place of birthLithgow, New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationMiner
AddressMain South Road, Fern Hill, Corrimal PO, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Height5' 8"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinFather, W Smith, Main South Coast Road, Fern Hill, Corrimal, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed for 3 years in St George's Rifles, Citizen Military Forces.
Enlistment date29 August 1915
Place of enlistmentWarwick Farm, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name2nd Battalion, 15th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/19/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A15 Star of England on 8 March 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll54th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 11), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
160
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Commemorated in Wollongong General Cemetery, New South Wales. Parents: William (d. 21 April 1933, aged 77; bu. Wollongong General Cemetery) and Elizabeth (d. 23 August 1944, aged 87; bu. Wollongong General Cemetery) SMITH
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Joined 54th Bn, Ferry Post, 20 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 19/20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19/20 July 1916'.

Letter on file, Jean C. HUNTER to Base Records, 30 October 1918: 'I must inform you that I have already given Pte Smith's mother and relatives the communication which was received by me from a soldier who helped to bury Pte E. G. Smith and the late soldier's friends said the message was untrue. I do not know the soldier personally or his regimental description but thinks the following address will find him ? Mr Dewhurst, Kenmore Hospital, Kenmore via Goulbourn.'

Note, Red Cross File No 2540413: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-10-19.'

Statement, 4868 Cadet B.G. REDDING, No 2 Officers' Cadet Bn, Cambridge, 20 July 1917: 'I last saw him in [the] German front line about 11 p.m. on the 19.7.16; he was then wounded and he spoke to me as I passed him. He did not seem to be seriously wounded and I could not stay with him as we were so badly cut up.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, SMITH Edward George
Red Cross file 2540413

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