The AIF Project

William Thomas SMITH

Regimental number2981
Place of birthWednesbury, Staffordshire, England
ReligionMethodist
OccupationMill hand
Address57 Patton Street, South Broken Hill, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation25
Height5' 2"
Weight114 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Annie Smith, 57 Patton Street, South Broken Hill, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil (previously rejected for enlistment on account of teeth)
Enlistment date2 March 1916
Place of enlistmentBroken Hill, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name50th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/67/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A19 Afric on 6 November 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll50th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 28 March 1919
Discharge date27 July 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 7 November 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 9 January 1917; marched in to 13th Training Bn, Codford, 10 January 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 9 May 1917; taken on strength, 50th Bn, in the field, 13 May 1917.

Admitted to 8th Australian Field Ambulance, 24 September 1917 (urticaria); transferred to 12th Australian Field Ambulance, 28 September 1917; discharged to duty, and rejoined Bn, 4 October 1917.

Admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, 8 October 1917, and transferred to 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station (debility); to 7th Convalescent Depot, Boulogne; to 10th Convalescent Depot, Ecault, 16 October 1917; to 13th Convalescent Depot, 4 November 1917; to 11th Convalescent Depot, Buchy, 13 November 1917; to Base Depot, Havre, 13 January 1918; rejoined Bn, in the field, 26 January 1918.

On leave, 3-19 February 1918.

Wounded in action, 13 September 1918 (gun shot wound, left thigh: slight), and admitted to 4th Australian Field Ambulance, and transferred to 5th Casualty Clearing Station; to 8th General Hospital, Havre, 16 September 1918; to England, 23 September 1918, and admitted to VAD Hospital, Cheltenham (affiliated with 2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol), 24 September 1918; transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 30 October 1918; discharged on furlough, 12 November 1918, to report to No 4 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 26 November 1918.

Marched out to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 13 December 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Karoa', 28 March 1919; disembarked Adelaide, 5 May 1919; discharged (medically unfit), Adelaide, 27 July 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsRegimental number incorrectly on Embarkation Roll as 2891; 'Protestant' religious denomination incorrectly interpreted as Church of England.
SourcesNAA: B2455, SMITH William Thomas

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