Sapper Joseph Richmond Smith

SAPPER JOSEPH RICHMOND SMITH 3921 – 2nd Tunnelling Company

Wedderburn, Victoria was the birthplace of Joseph Richmond Smith about 1874, the son of Richmon Jobe and Elizabeth (nee Howard) Smith. In 1897 he married Mrs Mary Ellen O’Connell (formerly Fitzpatrick), the widow John O’Connell. Records from 1903 until 1914 show they lived at Inglewood, Vic where he was a miner. In the latter part of 1914 they were at Wycheproof, Wimmera district and he worked as a labourer.

On January 18, 1916 at forty-two years of age he enlisted in Bendigo, Vic with his stepson-in-law Percy William Hocking for active service abroad. His medical examination was passed and forms of Attestation were completed that day. Information shows he was 174cms (5ft 8½ins) and weighed 71.3kgs (157lbs) with a chest expansion of 84-92cms (33-36ins). Fair was his complexion with blue eyes and fair hair and distinctive marks were two vaccination scars on his left arm. He was of the Methodist faith. Next-of-kin nominated was his wife Mrs Mary E. Smith of Reef Street, Wedderburn, Vic. whom he allotted three-fifths of his pay to support her and their children. When all was completed he took the ‘Oath of Allegiance’.

At the 16th Depot Battalion he began basic training commencing from January 18 until February 29, 1916. On March 1, 1916 he was transferred to the No. 5 Tunnelling Company camp at Broadmeadows, Vic for further training and allotted the regimental number 3921 and the rank of Sapper.

The No. 5 Company was recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania and made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1 st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.)

Early in May 1916 No. 4 company recruits embarked from Brisbane, Qld aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections. At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.

The 7713-ton transport Warilda sailed from Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Vic the No. 5 company departing on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.

Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No. 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs and set forth on their voyage the same day.

Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front arriving at Perham Down’s camp.

His wife Mary Smith received a reply to her letter from Base Records dated August 28, 1916 stating there was no further news of her son 1546 Private Albert O’Connell who was sick and was advised favourable progress was to be assumed. She also requested where to contact her son 1547 Private John O’Connell who was wounded, her husband 3921 Sapper J.R. Smith and her son-in-law 2467 Sapper Percy Hocking. Her husband and son-in-law were assumed to be with their respective units. Addresses of these men were issued in the correspondence.

On August 28, 1916 the companies proceeded overseas to France and marched into the Aust Divisional Base Depot two days later. Sapper Smith was transferred to the 2nd Tunnelling Company on September 25, 1916 and taken on strength three days later.

A year later on September 29, 1917 he was taken sick to the 1 / 3 rd E. Lancashire Field Ambulance and admitted with a Social Disease being transferred to the 90th Aust. Field Ambulance and then to the 36th Casualty Clearing Station where he was admitted until October 3rd.

He was conveyed on A.T.15 to Boulogne entering the 7th Convalescent Depot the next day but two days later was admitted to the 39th General Hospital at Havre with a N.Y.D. diagnosis (not yet diagnosed). When discharged from hospital returned to the A.G.B.D. at Rouelles on November 20, 1917 after 53 days treatment. He returned to his unit on November 26 and rejoined on December 6, 1917.

Blue Chevrons were due in the New Year.

On January 30, 1918 Sapper Smith was wounded in action by a gas shell attack and taken to the 149 th Field Ambulance then transferred to the 21st C.C.S. the following day.

In the last week of January, 1918 the company was working in the Cambrai sector for the Vth Corps on Dugouts in chalk, Anti-aircraft Dugouts with A – D galleries and Artillery Accommodation Dugouts. The company’s camp was at Ypres, Belgium. There were no entries in the Unit Diary that mentioned a shell gas attack. The following entry is all that was recorded for the day:

Unit Diary 2nd Tunnelling Company January, 1918

30/1/18 No. 4 section finished work in Wireless Chamber No. 125 Artillery dugouts at No. 25.

On February 2 he was sent on A.T.3 and entered the 1st General Hospital at Etretat for a month. His wife was advised on February 12, 1918 that her husband had been wounded by effects of gas. Embarkation to England took place on March 7, 1918 on board the hospital ship Carisbrook Castle and was admitted to the 5th Southern General Hospital at Portsmouth the next day suffering from shell gas poisoning. Mrs Smith was sent the news on March 27, 1918 that her husband had been admitted to the above English hospital on March 8, 1918.

He was discharged on April 15, 1918 to the 1st Aust. Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield until he was granted furlough on April 22, 1918 and to report to the No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott on May 6, 1918. He marched in from Aust Headquarters London remaining until August 8, 1918 when ordered to report to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge-Deverill. The following day he was declared ‘dentally fit.’

On August 30, 1918 proceeded overseas via Southampton to France returning to the A.G.B.D. at Rouelles until September 3 when he left to rejoin his unit.

Special leave was granted on November 2, 1918 and during his time away Armistice was declared. Returned to his unit on November 20, 1918 where they were part of the army of occupation assisting with rehabilitation of roads and bridges in their area.

They were recalled on February 3, 1919 to return to Base Depot at left Havre on February 12 crossing the English Channel and marching into the 2nd Training Brigade the following day.

After demobilisation Sapper Smith embarked from Devonport, Eng on the H.T. Castalia on April 13, 1919. About mid-May, 1919 his wife was advised by Base Records that her husband was returning to Australia. The ship arrived in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on May 30, 1919. At P.H.M.B. the same day he was medically assessed for any disability as a result of his war service. The following details were taken: Hospital 1918 Gassed – Portsmouth 3 months. C.O. Nil O.E. N.A.D. “A” Class (sgd) C. Dyring Capt T. Taylor – Downie Major

Discharge from the A.I.F. took place in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on July 14, 1919 at the termination of his period of enlistment.

He returned home to Wedderburn, Bendigo district, Vic. to work as a labourer.

Sapper 3921 Joseph Richmond Smith, 2nd Tunnelling Company received for serving his country the British War Medal (45516) and the Victory Medal (44742). He receipted receiving the War Medal on November 15, 1921.

On October 22, 1923 a Statement of his Service was forwarded to the Repatriation Department at St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Vic.

He remained at Wedderburn, Vic until 1936 with the occupation of Labourer. He is recorded as a Labourer at Dougherty Street, Yarram in the Gippsland district later in 1936 and also in 1937 but returned to Wedderburn towards the end of that year and continued to reside there up to 1942. From 1949 until he passed away he was living at Dougherty Street, Yarram, Vic.

Joseph Richmond Smith died on April 15, 1955 aged 81 years of age and his death was registered at Heidelberg, Vic.

O’CONNELL BROTHERS

PRIVATE ALBERT O’CONNELL 1546 – 24th Battalion

Albert O’Connell was born in Inglewood, Victoria in 1892 the son of John and Mary Ellen (nee Fitzpatrick).

He and his brother John William O’Connell enlisted together at Wedderburn, Vic for active service abroad on April 10, 1915 and the following day both passed the medical examination. Albert was twenty- two years of age and 160cms (5ft 5½ins) tall, weighed 60.4kgs (133lbs) with a chest expansion of 84- 89cms (33-35ins). He has a ruddy complexion with grey eyes and black hair. Roman Catholic was his religion. Distinguishing marks were a mole on his left arm and a scar on his left instep. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Mary Smith of Wedderburn, Vic.

Basic training commenced soon after and he was transferred to the Broadmeadows camp, Melbourne, Vic on May 22, 1915 to join the 1st Reinforcements to the 24th Battalion in the rank of Private with the regimental number 1546. He embarked from Australia on June 23, 1915 and joined the M.E.F. at the Gallipoli Peninsula on August 30, 1915.

A month later he was taken sick with Dysentery then Pyrexia (Fever) and transferred to the Brook War Hospital in Woolwich, England in October, 1915. The following is a letter written by Sister M.A. Willcox to his mother on October 21, 1915 from Alexandria in Egypt: He remained in England and was taken on strength at Monte Video camp, Weymouth on May 5, 1916. On June 29 he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Fargo then to the 6th Training Battalion and when well again he proceeded overseas to France on September 15, 1916 and taken on strength with the 24th Battalion four days later.

Early in December, 1916 he was admitted to the 10th General Hospital at Rouen with Bronchitis then suffered Enteritis (inflammation of intestine) but recovered and rejoined his Battalion on January 18, 1917.

Private O’Connell was wounded in action on May 3, 1917 received a gunshot wound to his right thigh and he returned to England and admitted to the Grove Military Hospital at Richmond on May 14, 1917.

He proceeded overseas to France on via Southampton on September 5, 1917 and rejoined his unit thirteen days later.

On October 4, 1917 he was wounded for the 2nd occasion receiving a gunshot wound to his elbow and transferred to the 3rd General Hospital at Abbeville. He went back to his unit on October 29, 1917.

He was wounded in action for the 3rd occasion on March 23, 1918 from a gas shell attack and admitted to the 7th General Hospital at St Omer and recuperated at the 10th Convalescent Depot in Boulogne. He returned to his unit on May 4, 1918.

Wounding for the 4th occasion occurred on September 1, 1918 when he suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the right side of his body in the shoulder, side, leg and foot and evacuated to England for the 3rd West General Hospital at Cardiff, Wales. Private Albert O’Connell died as a result of these wounds in the Cardiff Hospital on November 1, 1918 just 10 days before Peace was declared. He was 25 years of age.

On November 9, 1918 his polished elm coffin was conveyed on a gun carriage draped in the Union Jack flag to the Cardiff New Cemetery where he was given a full military ceremony including a firing party, bugler and pall bearers. Several beautiful wreaths were presented by the Australian Red Cross and Nursing Staff and the service with the Rev. Father G. Elson officiating.

The ‘Last Post’ was sounded and Administrative Staff from Headquarters London and Mrs Hedger Wallace represented the Australian Red Cross at the funeral. The ground had been consecrated in virgin soil where the burial took place and the coffin was placed into a single new grave in section E.B. grave no. 56. The Undertaker was Mr Stone of Working Road, Cardiff. The grave was to be turfed and an oak cross erected by the A.I.F. London.

His personal effects returned to Australia on the ship Barambah and the sealed parcel contained these items: 9 coins, buttons, 1 German cap, 1 pocket wallet and photos, 1 mirror, 2 razors, 1 safety razor, 2 pen knives, a thimble and letters. Pay Book was handed to the Estates Branch at A.I.F. Headquarters in London.

His mother was advised of the full details of her son’s demise and funeral ceremony in a letter dated May 13, 1919.

For his supreme sacrifice Private 1546 Albert O’Connell, 24th Battalion was awarded the 1914/15 Star (18742), the British War Medal (15034) and the Victory Medal (14974). The War Medal was distributed to the Commandant of the 3rd Military District for distribution to his mother on August 12, 1921 and the Victory Medal was sent to her on January 3, 1923. His mother also received the Memorial Scroll (345660) around the same time. The Memorial Plaque (354660) did not go out until November 29, 1922. A booklet called ‘Where the Australians’ Rest plus three photos of his grave were also forwarded to her in 1924.

Cardiff Cathays Cemetery, Wales Photographs by kind permission of: The War Graves Photographic Project. LEST WE FORGET PRIVATE JOHN O’CONNELL 1547 – 24th Battalion

John William O’Connell was born in 1891 and was twenty-three and a half years of age when he enlisted with his younger brother Albert O’Connell. He was born at Inglewood, Vic and took the “Oath of Allegiance” at Wedderburn, Vic on April 11, 1915.

Attestation Forms show he was 169cms (5ft 6½ins) tall and weighed 60.9kgs (134lbs) with a chest expansion of 84-90cms (33-35½ins). Fair was his complexion with grey eyes and auburn hair. Distinctive marks were a scar on his right hand palm and one on the forefinger of his left hand. Roman Catholic was his faith. He also nominated his mother Mrs Mary Smith of Wedderburn, Vic as his next- of-kin.

After completing basic training he was transferred to the Broadmeadows camp near Melbourne, Vic on May 22, 1915 and assigned the regimental number 1547 in the rank of Private to the 1st Reinforcements to the 24th Battalion. The Reinforcements embarked on June 23, 1915 and joined the M.E.F. at Gallipoli Peninsula on August 30, 1915.

He was sent to hospital on October 15, 1915 and after an observational period was transferred to the 15th General Hospital at Alexandria diagnosed with Pneumonia. Convalescence was took place at the Depot in Luxor.

On January 16, 1916 he was discharged to the Overseas Base at Ghezireh and on February 2 sent to Zietoun and joined the B.E.F. in France. He was evacuated wounded suffering from shell shock on July 29, 1916 and transferred to the 14th Stationary Hospital in Boulogne with recovery at the 1st Convalescent Depot. He returned to the Aust General Base Depot at Etaples and retuned to his Battalion.

On November 8, 1916 was admitted with diarrhoea to the 1st General Hospital at Rouen with suspected Dysentery and transferred to England on November 24, 1916 entering the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford.

He returned to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth in February, 1917 and then proceeded back to France when declared fit. On May 4 was he left the field suffering from Pyrexia of uncertain origin (P.U.O.) then returned to duty ten days later.

Dysentery and diarrhoea plagued him during July, 1917 and he entered the No. 2 Convalescent Depot in Rouen and was discharged to Base at the end of August, 1917.

Unable to recover fully due to this disability he crossed the English Channel for the last time returning to England and was declared medically unfit for general service and to return to Australia.

He embarked for home on board the HMAT Port Darwin on January 11, 1918 and arrived in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on March 4, 1918.

On April 29, 1918 he was discharged medically unfit in Melbourne due to disability caused by Dysentery.

A Statement of his Service was forwarded to the Department of Repatriation, St Kilda Road, Melbourne on March 1, 1922.

For serving his country Private 1547 Private John O’Connell, 24th Battalion received the 1914/15 Star (17129), the British War Medal (15632) which was sent to him on January 8, 1924 and the Victory Medal (15530). His wife was Esther Adelaide O’Connell and they married after his return. In 1931 he was a hairdresser and they resided at 72 Charles Street, Prahran, Melbourne. Their residence was 11 Macquarie Street, Prahran in 1937 and he was still a hairdresser. In 1954 6A Marriott Street, Caulfield a suburb of Melbourne was where they lived and were in Lalor , Vic in 1963.

John William O’Connell died in 1963 aged 70 years at Lalor, Vic.

His widow wrote from 15 Maxwell Street, Lalor, Vic to the Officer in Charge at Albert Park Barracks on July 22, 1967 requesting the Gallipoli Medal which was awarded to members of the Gallipoli Campaign as next-of-kin on her late husband’s behalf.