The AIF Project

William Henry Gordon SMITH

Place of birthNorth Melbourne, Victoria
SchoolMelbourne High School, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationSoldier
Address48 Baillie Street, North Melbourne, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation25
Next of kinFather, Mr W S Smith, 48 Baillie Street, North Melbourne, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed in Cadets.
Enlistment date7 July 1915
Rank on enlistment2nd Lieutenant
Unit name7th Battalion, 23rd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/24/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 23 November 1916
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll7th Battalion
FateDied of disease 30 October 1918
Place of death or woundingDied 2nd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, London, England
Age at death27
Age at death from cemetery records27
Place of burialBrookwood Military Cemetery (Plot IV, Row L, Grave No. 3), Surrey, England, England
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
51
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: William and Martha SMITH. Native of North Melbourne, Victoria
Medals

Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry and good leadership during the attack on Lihons on 11th August 1918. Throughout the advance he led his company with great skill and courage, always being in the thickest of the fighting. When the nature of the ground and the opposition caused two leading companies to diverge, he threw his support company into the gap, enabling the advance to continue without pause for re-organization. He carried his objective in billiant style, and, when heavily counter attacked by a numerically superior force, fought desperately at the head of his men until he staved off the enemy.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 67
Date: 3 June 1919

Family/military connectionsBrother.
Other details

War service: Western Front

Died of influenza.

Medals: Military Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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