SAPPER WILLIAM SMITH
6952 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Wallangarra, Queensland was stated to be the birthplace of William Smith about 1888 the son of John and
Sarah Smith. From 1903 to 1906 his parents were residing at Margetts Street, Wallangarra.
About June, 1914 William met with a railway shunting accident receiving a crush injury to his lower
body.
At the recruiting depot in Brisbane, Qld on November 24, 1916 the twenty-eight year old applied to enlist
for active service abroad. Personal particulars were his postal address of Wallangarra and occupation of
checker. He passed his preliminary medical examination with good physical development but due to his
injury of a crushed pelvis three years before the volunteer reported to the Principal Medical Officer who
advised acceptance and his Application was accepted by the recruiting officer.
Attestation Forms were completed and describe him as 180cms (5ft 11ins) tall, weighing 107kgs (236lbs)
with a chest expansion of 103-107cms (42⅓-44ins). Complexion was dark with brown eyes that tested to
very poor sight in the right eye and poor vision in the left and had brown hair. Distinctive mark was a
scar on his right buttock. Church of England was his religious faith. Next-of-kin nominated was his
mother Mrs Sarah Smith of Wallangarra, Qld but later changed to his father Mr John Smith of the same
address. He was sworn in the same day.
Basic training commenced at Enoggera, Brisbane with the 11th Depot Battalion from November 27 as a
Private at Fraser’s Paddock camp. Final Home Leave of five days was granted to return to Tabalum,
NSW from December 7 until December 12, 1916 by train to the nearest station of Tenterfield, NSW.
Returning he remained with his unit until January 4, 1917 then re-allotted to the Miners’ Depot (1st
Military District). He signed a Statutory Declaration on January 8, 1917 to change his trade to be a
miner on his Attestation Form instead of a Checker or Railway Foreman.
A transfer on January 9, 1917 to Seymour, Victoria for further instruction at the Miners’ Training Camp
and commenced on January 12 in the rank of Sapper with the February, 1917 Reinforcements. His
regimental number was 6952 and on February 27 assigned to the Tunnelling Companies Reinforcements.
In preparation for departure his Will was noted to be lodged with his Mother Mrs Sarah Smith at
Wallangarra, NSW.
The transport HMAT A9 Shropshire embarked from Melbourne, Vic on May 11, 1917 with 168 members
of the February Reinforcements on board. Sapper Smith left Australian waters from Fremantle harbour
and after crossing the Indian Ocean the ship docked at Durban, South Africa. Next Port-of-call was
Capetown to refuel about June 21, followed by another stopover at an unrecorded harbour would have
completed the trip-sheet. After being at sea for 70 days the voyage terminated at Plymouth, England on
July 19, 1917. The three officers and 165 other ranks were detrained to Tidworth while two were
hospitalised at Plymouth the remainder marched into Nos 1 & 3 Details Camp at Parkhouse camp for
further training for the front.
Disciplinary action took place for the following:
Offence:
A.W.L. from 2400hrs 16/8/17 till 1230hrs 17/8/17 Parkhouse
Award:
Forfeits 1 day’s pay by Major E. Lewis
Total forfeiture:
1 day’s pay
The Reinforcement proceeded overseas to France from Southampton on August 18, 1917 arriving at the
Aust General Base Depot at Rouelles a day later. On September 3, 1917 Sapper was assigned to the 1st
Anzac Entrenching Battalion which was an advanced section of the Base Depot that organised works near
the lines and through duties, usually of ten days duration, would accustom the reinforcements to war
conditions before being assigned to a company in the field.
Sapper Smith was attached to the 1st Tunnelling Company in the field on October 20, 1917.
Service continued without injury or illness and was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform for
serving twelve months abroad on February 10, 1918.
While on leave in the United Kingdom he reported sick to London Headquarters on February 20 and
admitted to the 1st Aust. Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, Middlesex with traumatic stricture urethra. His
statement of case while hospitalised states:
“1914 June – crushed while shunting on railways. Perineal incision made. Was dilated up regularly every few
months. Military passed since early in 1916. ? has frequent micturition. Diminished control over bladder, no pain;
no force in passing urine – weak small stream.
O.E. Median scar in perineum, broad & ?, no marked fibrosis around bulbous or penile urethra, testicles & glands
22/8/18 Sound, up to 8-11 passed. Stricture in bulbous portion, admitting at first at No. 3 sound with difficulty
1/3/18 Sounds up to 10-13 passed.
8/3/18 Sounds up to 11-14 “
22/3/18 Sounds up to 12-15 “
Sounds should be passed again on 21/4/18.”
He was discharged on March 27, 1918 and granted balance of leave and proceeded overseas to France on
March 31. Unit was rejoined on April 14, 1918. The following day he went sick to the 100th Field
Ambulance with Traumatic Stricture and transferred to the Casualty Clearing Station. On April 16
entered the 2nd General Hospital at Havre for treatment of Traumatic Stricture.
On May 5, 1918 he was transferred to the 1st Aust Command Depot in Havre. Five days later Sapper was
transferred to Aust General Base Depot “A” at Rouelles then marched out to rejoin his unit on May 19,
1918.
Sapper was taken on strength with the 1st Tunnelling Company on September 7, 1918. He was with his
unit when Peace was declared and the Tunnelling Companies remained as part of the Army of Occupation
assisting with rehabilitation of their district by clearing roads and bridges and defusing booby traps left by
the enemy.
Leave from France was taken from January 25 to February 8, 1919 and rejoined his unit three days later.
Orders were received to prepare for demobilisation and return to the Base Depot on April 3, 1919.
Sapper left the A.G.B.D. on April 10 and crossed the English Channel from France arriving at No. 1
Group camp at Deverill the following day.
After demobilisation Sapper embarked for Australia on May 31, 1919 on board H.T. Aeneas. Base
Records advised his father on June 26, 1919 that he was on his way home. The ship docked in Melbourne
(3rd M.D.) on July 12, 1919. News of their arrival was reported in:
The Age Monday July 14, 1919:
TROOPS PER AENEAS LANDED
Though timed to land at Port Melbourne at 2 p.m. on Saturday, troops arriving by the transport Aeneas, to the
number of 300, reached the pier a little earlier, and by 2.20 p.m. the first of the men were at Sturt-street
undergoing medical examination. The usual welcome by Brigadier-General Brand, State Commandant, and
advice on how to proceed, by Captain E.M. Wright, were tendered to the soldiers on landing, and they were
given a hearty welcome in the streets of the metropolis and by relatives and friends at the “finalisations” depot.
The Aeneas carried troops for New South Wales and Queensland, who were sent on special trains to their
respective States immediately upon quitting the transport.
On July 14, 1919 at the 6th Aust General Hospital at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Sapper Smith appeared
before the Disembarkation Medical Board and signed their declaration that he had no disability from his
war service. Board recommended that he be demobilised as fit for discharge.
Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on August 13, 1919 on termination of his period of
enlistment.
For serving his country Sapper 6952 William Smith, 1st Tunnelling Company was issued with the British
War Medal (29034) and the Victory Medal (27745).
His father died in 1920 aged 73 and is buried in the Wallangarra Cemetery with a quite an impressive
monument. He was a sleeper carrier for the railway when under construction and came from Scone,
NSW with his family and lived in a canvas dwelling before he lived in Margetts Street.
His mother died in 1935 and her obituary provided the names of his siblings:
The Courier-Mail, Qld – Saturday 19 October 1935:
Tenterfield
Mrs. Sarah Smith, Wallangarra, who died recently, was born in Essex, England in 1849, came to Australia with
her parents at the age of 9 years. With her parents the late Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Daniel Judd, she resided in the
Tamworth district until her father's death. She is survived by five sons, Messrs. John, Thomas Albert, and
James Erwin (Wallangarra), William (Bundaberg), and Alexander (Broadmeadow), and six daughters,
Mesdames Sarah Flett (Marrickvllle), R. Bates (Black Swamp), M. Kennedy (Brisbane), A. Smith (Richmond),
E. Russon (Toowoomba), and J. Jackson (Wallangarra).
His brother died in 1936:
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, NSW – Friday 10 July 1936:
SMITH.-- The Relatives and Friends of Mrs. A. SMITH and ERNIE, Mr. and Mrs. B. HIGGS and FAMILY are
kindly invited to attend the Funeral of their late dearly beloved husband, father and father-in-law and
grandfather, ALEXANDER SMITH, to move from his late residence, 45 Broadmeadow-road, Broadmeadow,
This (Friday) Afternoon at 1.30 o'clock, for Methodist Cemetery, Sandgate, via Broadmeadow Station.
SMITH.- The Relatives and Friends of the FAMILY of the late JOHN and SARAH SMITH, of Wallangarra are
kindly invited to attend the Funeral of their late dearly loved brother, ALEX ANDER SMITH, to move from his
late residence, 45 Broadmeadow-road, Broadmeadow, This (Friday) Afternoon, at 1.30 o'clock, for Methodist
Cemetery, Sandgate
SMITH.-- The Relatives and Friends of the FAMILY of the late WILLIAM and MARY SELBY; of Armidale,
are kindly invited to attend the Funeral of their late dearly loved brother-in-law, ALEXANDER SMITH, to
move from his late residence, 45 Broadmeadow-road, Broadmeadow, This (Friday) Afternoon, at 1.30 o'clock,
for Methodist Cemetery, Sandgate:
WILLIAM G: CROOKS. Funeral Director. ‘Phone, War, 196
Alexander Smith is buried at Sandgate Cemetery, Methodist Section 02, Lot 47.
William Smith, son of John Smith and Sarah Judd, died in Queensland in 1951.
© Donna Baldey 2015
www.tunnellers.net
with the assistance of Jan Friar, Wallangarra
Information provided by Jan Friar:
children of John and Sarah Jane Smith:
Sarah Jane Smith married Henry William Harry Flett in 1886 Tenterfield. Harry was a bricklayer who built
Sunnyside railway bridge. Sarah’s two sons both died in WW1; 5816A Private David George Flett, 19th Battalion,
killed in action 11 August 1918 and 5815 Private, John Alexander Flett, 19th Battalion, killed in action 3 May
1917.
John McMullin Smith married Isabella Mann 1899 Tenterfield.
Thomas Albert Smith married Mary Elizabeth Lamb, and had children John Edward (Jack), Jessie Ivy (Hodgson),
Beryl Aileen (Nicolson) and Mary Elizabeth (Dolly) (Whiting). Thomas died in 1957 aged 79 and is buried in the
Wallangarra Cemetery.
Ernest Smith born 1883 and died 1930 age 48, buried Wallangarra Cemetery. 4207 Private Ernest Smith served in
France with the 26th Battalion and the Australian Veterinary Hospital. He was wounded accidentally in December
1917.
James Erwin Smith born 1892 at Wallangarra was an engine cleaner who died in 1970 age 78, buried Wallangarra
Cemetery.
William Smith enrolled in 1894 at Wallangarra State School. As the railway was a thriving business in those days
being the junction of Qld/NSW it is quite likely that William worked there as his brothers had.
Other research from Qld & NSW BDMs & Ancestry Family Trees:
[not corroborated by descendants]
John Smith married Sarah Jane Smith at Armidale, NSW in 1870
children:
Matilda Rebecca Smith –
Ancestry: born 1872, Tamworth, NSW
John McMullin Smith Ancestry: born 1874, Gunnedah, NSW; died 20 December 1947, Armidale, NSW
Married Isabel May Mann, 22 June 1899, Tenterfield, NSW
Matilda Smith –
Ancestry: born 1876
Thomas Albert Smith died 1957 in Qld, s/o John Smith & Sarah Judd
Ancestry: Thomas Smith - born 1879: died 1932, Glenn Innes, NSW
Alexander Smith Ancestry: born 1881, Tamworth, NSW; died 8 July 1936, Gosford, NSW
Martha – born Rylestone 1883; d. 1960, Qld
Ancestry: Martha Louisa Smith married Michael Kennedy in 1904 in Qld
Ernest Smith died 1930, Qld, s/o John Smith & Sarah Jane Judd
Ancestry: Ernest Smith - born 1883; died 1928, Wallangarra, Qld
Violet May Smith married Hubert Reginald Carter in 1909 in Qld; died 27 January 1952, Merrylands, NSW
Ancestry: Violet May Smith - born 10 May 1885, Dundee, NSW;
Esther Smith married Edwin Russon in 1910 in Qld
Ancestry: Esther (Jess) Smith - born 1887; died Grafton, NSW
William – born 1888 (Military records)
Ancestry: William T Smith born Rylestone 1895; died 1951 (William s/o John and Sarah Judd)
Mary – born Qld 1890
Ancestry: Mary Smith - born 1890; died 1950, Macksville, NSW
James Irwin – born Qld 1892; died Wallangarra 1970; buried Wallangarra Cemetery
Ancestry: James Smith - born 1892, Wallangarra, Qld
John – born Sydney 1893