The AIF Project

James Robert SMITH

Regimental number3983
Place of birthAllora, Queensland
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressEnoggera, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 6.5"
Weight147 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Jane Smith, East Talgai, Dalrymple, Darling Downs, Queensland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date12 December 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll12 January 1915
Place of enlistmentEnoggera, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name26th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/43/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on 31 January 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll31st Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records23
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 4), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
119
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: James and Harriet SMITH, Percy Street, Warwick, Queensland. Native of East Talgai, Queensland
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength 31st Bn, Duntroon Plateau, 6 April 1916.

Admitted to No. 14 Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 17 April 1916; rejoined 31st Bn, Ferry Post, 1 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Found guilty, 10 July 1916, of falling out of march without sufficient cause: awarded 48 hours' Field Punishment No. 2.

Reported wounded in action, 20 July 1916.

Now posted missing on 20 July 1916, 28 July 1916.

'German list received by Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau, Australian Branch, British Red Cross Society', 4 November 1916, show that 'identification marks found on the Prisoner of War are inspected by the General War Bureau and shown in the lists as under:- DEAD'.

'Identification disc received from Germany', 24 February 1917. 'No particulars afforded except that soldier is deceased. To be reported KILLED IN ACTION, 20/7/16' on the authority of Assistant Adjutant General, ANZAC Section, War Office.

Note on the bottom of Statement of Service states, 'buried at Fleurbaix Sh[eet] 36 NW.'

Note on Red Cross File No 2551005: 'Disc received from Germany and forwarded to next of kin 20.6.17.'

Note on file: 'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.'

Statement, 2170 Pte J.D. SMITH, 31st Bn (patient, West Hall Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, England), 6 October 1916: 'Informant states that on 20th July 1916 at Fromelles in a charge at 6 p.m., Smith was shot through the heart as they were between the British and German trenches. Informant went up to him and spoke but he was already dead. The British held the trench until 7 a.m. next morning when they were driven out. Unless the dead had been buried that night they must have fallen into German hands.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsFather, James Smith, c/-W. G. Brest, Percy Street, Warwick (from 9 November 1921 as the nearest blood relative as defined under Deceased Soldiers Estate Act, 1918)
SourcesNAA: B2455, SMITH James Robert
Red Cross File No 2551005

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