William Henry SMITH (4851)

William was born in 1897 in NSW Australia, the third child and second son of Walter SMITH (1858-1927) and Elizabeth Frazer SCOTT (1870-1948).

A Printer by trade, William enlisted in the army on 13th September 1915 at Warwick Farm. He had already served for four years in the senior cadets. Initially William was allocated to the 1st Battalion, 15th Reinforcements and departed Australia on 8 March 1916 aboard the 'Star of England'. The 1st Battalion had seen action in Gallipoli but was in Egypt awaiting their next assignment at this time.

The main Australian training and rest camp for troops in Africa was at Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt and it was here that William was sent where he was transferred to the 53rd Battalion (part of the 14th Brigade). The battalion was raised on 14 February 1916 as part of the "doubling" of the AIF and was made up of 1st Battalion veterans and fresh reinforcements from Australia such as William.

In June 1916, the Battalion was sent to the Western Front in France, seeing action for the first time on 10 July and involved in their first major battle at Fromelles on 19 July. From the Australian War Memorial: "The battle of Fromelles was a disaster. The 53rd was part of the initial assault and suffered grievously, incurring 625 casualties, including its commanding officer, amounting to over three-quarters of its attacking strength. Casualty rates among the rest of the 5th Division were similarly high, but despite these losses it continued to man the front in the Fromelles sector for a further two months. "

William was one of the casualties of Fromelles. In late July he received a gunshot wound to the arm and did not return to the 53rd until September 1916.

(Photo: Men of the 53rd at Fromelles. (c) AWM)

The 53rd continued to be involved in the defence of the Western Front. "The 53rd spent the freezing winter of 1916–17 rotating in and out of trenches in the Somme Valley. During this period the battalion earned the nickname “the Whale Oil Guards” after the CO, Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Croshaw, ordered the troops to polish their helmets with whale oil (issued to rub into feet as a trench foot preventative) for a smart turn out on parade. In March 1917, the 53rd participated in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. It was spared the assault but did, however, defend gains made during the second battle of Bullecourt. Later in the year, the AIF’s focus of operations switched to the Ypres sector in Belgium. The 53rd’s major battle here was at Polygon Wood on 26 September. " (Source: AWM)

On 6 April 1917, William was again injured in action, receiving a gunshot wound in his left leg. Sent to England to recover he didn't return to France until October of that year. The battalion's last major battle of the war started on 29 September 1918, working with American forces to break through German defences along the St Quentin Canal. The battalion withdrew on 2 October to rest and was still doing so when the war ended. It was for his actions during this last battle that William was awarded the Military Medal. The official citation reads:

"During the operations near BELLICOURT from 30th September to 2nd October 1918, this N.C.O. displayed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in advancing with his section along the left of the main enemy trench system and giving covering fire to the bombing party in the trench notwithstanding heavy casualties in his section and in spite of heavy ? machine gun fire this N.C.O. continued to cover the advance of the bombing party for a very considerable distance. Later on he brought heavy fire to bear from his section on to the enemy who were counter-attaching and assisted largely in beating off the attack. Throughout the whole attach he rendered invaluable service to his Company Commander in re-organising and controlling his section and set throughout a fine example to all the men under him. Signed J Talbot Hobbs, Major-General Commanding 5th Australian Division" (Source: AWM Honours & Awards Database)

During his service, William received a number of other mentions in the Gazette including this one in 1917 : "Has during the period from 21st October to 3rd November served with his unit in the trenches during this period he has shown exceptional courage. As a runner on many occasions he carried messages to and from the Front Line under very heavy shell fire. He guided in relieving Units after carrying out his ordinary days work. His courage deserves special recognition" (Source: AWM Honours & Awards Database). Another special mention was contained in the dispatches of Sir Douglas Haig (British Commander of the Allied Forces) in April 1917. William also received two oak leaves (1 large and 1 small) and a Certificate for being mentioned in dispatches.

As troops were sent home, the 53rd and 55th Battalions were merged and finally disbanded on 11 April 1919. Sergeant William H Smith arrived home in per 'Orita' in August 1919.

Little is known about the next years of Williams' life, only that he married. He passed away in 1960.

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