James Smith

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sun, 20/12/2015 - 15:21

First Name:

James

Last Name:

Smith

Date Enlisted:

Monday, April 10, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

33rd Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, June 8, 1917

Place of Death:

Belgium

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

James Smith was born in Newcastle, England around 1880. He emigrated to Australia sometime after 1911 and settled in Bulli, N.S.W. James had served 12 years with the Royal Garrison Artillery Territorials at Tynemouth, England.

He appears to have married around1901, but his wife, Mary Jane, may have remained in England as there are no references to her other than an adress in England - see below.

James first enlisted on 5th November 1914 (Service No 455) and sailed from Sydney on board H.M.A.T. Eastern, on 25th January 1915, for service in Rabaul with the Naval and Military Force. James returned to Australia in December that year, and was medically discharged on 23rd December 1915. On these enlistment papers, James nominates his wife, Mary Jane, of 20 Double Row, Cooper/ Cowper/ Cowpen Colliery, Northumberland, as his next of kin.

When James re-enlisted (Service No 2132) on 10th April 1916 he was 36 years old, lived at Bulli, N.S.W. and worked as a miner. On these papers, he states his next of kin to be his sister, Mrs Smith, of Cowper/ Cowpen Colliery, Northumberland, England.

James embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A68 Anchises with 3rd Reinforcements, 33rd Battalion on 24th August 1916. The troops arrived in England on 11th October 1916 and James joined B Company, 33rd Battalion in France on 8th February 1917.

James served on the Western Front until he was killed during fighting at Messines, Belgium on 8th June 1917.

There is no known grave for James; he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium.

In relation to the matter of next of kin, James' National Archives of Australia records includes a card (p.46) 'Registration, alteration or change of address or next of kin' which states James NOK, previously registered as 'sister', Miss Smith of Cowper Colliery Blight, Northumberland to now be recorded as 'wife', Mrs M J Smith, of 20 Double Row, Cowper Colliery, Northumberland.

James' Will, dated 6/6/17, bequeathed his property and effects to Mrs M J Smith, 20 Double Row Cowpen Colliery, Northumberland.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, SMITH J