Walter David Smith

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sun, 20/08/2017 - 13:42

First Name:

Walter

Middle Name:

David

Last Name:

Smith

Father's Name:

William Smith

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, August 12, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

5th Field Ambulance

Company:

B section

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Details:

Walter Smith was born in London, England. He served 3 years with the 1st Essex Regiment before he came to Australia.

Walter enlisted with the Naval and Military Expeditionary Force on 12 August 1914 and was assigned to G Company (Service No 650). At the time he was 25 years old, single and worked as an assistant assayer at Port Kembla, N.S.W. He embarked from Sydney for Rabaul, Papua New Guinea on HMAT A35 Berrima on 19 August 1914. Walter served with the ANMEF until 4th March 1915.

He re-enlisted with the AIF (Service No 2999) on 25th March 1915 and embarked from Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic with 5th Field Ambulance, 'B' Section on 25th June 1915. After arriving in Egypt Walter was sent to Gallipoli in late August where he served until he was evacuated to hospital in Egypt with influenza on 23rd December 1915. He had been admitted to hospital on Gallipoli on 12th September 1915 suffering from malaria but returned to duty soon after.

Walter was then sent to France, and arrived on 4th April 1916. He was sent to hospital in England on 30th June 1916 and was diagnosed as having tuberculosis on 3rd July 1916.

He was repatriated to Australia in February 1917 and discharged medically unfit with a pension on 31st May 1917.

Walter's service is commemorated on the Port Kembla Roll of Honour.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, SMITH W D