Ernest James SMITH

Regimental number3427
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
AddressBathurst, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Next of kinUncle, E. Smith, Kialla Road, Crookwell, New South Wales
Enlistment date15 July 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name3rd Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/20/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 2 November 1915
Regimental number from Nominal Roll3427A
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll53rd Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 8 April 1919
Medals

Military Medal

'This man showed great initiative and devotion to duty during the attack on PERONNE on 1st September 1918, while acting as Stretcher Bearer. He attended the wounded under very heavy machine gun fire, dressing their wounds and carrying them to places of safety marking these places in such a manner that the Battalion Stretcher Bearers were easily able to locate them. Running short of dressings he searched until he found some dead German Bearers and took their dressings from them, these he used to bandage his men. Later, when all the stretchers had either been destroyed or taken to the rear he found a dump of poles and German waterproof sheets, these he improvised into stretchers and used them for evacuating the wounded. This man's great initiative undoubtedly saved many lives and assisted materially the clearing of wounded from the battlefield.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 115
Date: 10 October 1919