The AIF Project

Sydney Gordon SMITH

Regimental number3217
Place of birthLaidley, Queensland
SchoolState School, Laidley, Queensland
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationCarpenter
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 5.25"
Weight119 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Louise Smith, Campbell Street, Laidley, Queensland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date11 September 1915
Place of enlistmentBrisbane, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name25th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/42/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A50 Itonus on 30 December 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll25th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 29 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records18.3
Place of burialPozieres British Cemetery (Plot IV, Row C, Grave No 51), Ovillers-La-Boisselle, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
106
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Arthur George and Louisa Mary SMITH, Laidley, Queensland
Family/military connectionsFather: 216 Pte Arthur George SMITH, 42nd Bn, returned to Australia, 1 November 1917; Half-brother: 5069 Pte Charles Francis CRACK MM, 47th Bn, returned to Australia, 19 October 1918.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 21 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 27 March 1916.

Admitted to Isolation Hospital, Etaples, 13 April 1916 (mumps); transferred to 26th General Hospital, Etaples, 14 April 1916; discharged to Divisional Base, 4 May 1916; joined Bn, in the field, 22 May 1916.

Reported missing, 29 July 1916.

Now, 14 October 1916, reported Killed in Action, 29 July 1916.

Statement, Red Cross File No 2560901N, 54648 Pte H.G. CHEETHAM, B Company, 25th Bn, 25 March 1918: 'I saw him killed by a bullet at a place near Pozieres. He was killed on the spot, and I had to go ahead and leave him. I cannot say where he was buried. He came from Hornsby, N.S. Wales. He was a railway porter.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, SMITH Sydney Gordon
Red Cross File No 2560901N

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