Soldier Research

SOLDIER RESEARCH

Soldier’s Name Lewis William Smith

Rank Private

Service 4515 Number Regiment/Unit 11th Reinforcements, 26th Battalion or Ship or Squadron Place of Birth Gympie

Date of Birth January 1881

Place of Gladstone Enlistment Age at 34 Enlistment Family Details Single (Next of kin, married or single, George Smith (father) names of mother, father or wife) Sarah Smith (mother)

Date of Death 5 November 1916

Place of Death Somme Valley

Cemetery or Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Name Grave or Memorial Number

Pte Lewis Smith

No. 4515 – 26th Battalion

Lewis William Smith was born to Gladstone parents George and Sarah Smith in January 1881. After moving to Gympie and attending school, Lewis became a farm labourer. He maintained this occupation up until his enlistment on 4 November 1915. On his attestation paper, Lewis stated that his mother, Sarah Smith, was his next of kin and that he had no previous military experience. According to his medical exam, Lewis was 5 foot, 9 and a half inches high, weighed 158 pounds and had a dark complexion. He was found fit for active service by a medical officer. On 30 May 1916, Lewis boarded the H.T. Tunisian heading for the Egyptian city of Alexandria.

According to his Active Service form, he arrived in Egypt on the 9June 1916. Two months later, after being assigned to the 11th Reinforcements to the 26th Battalion, Lewis proceeded to join the 2nd Division unit in France. By the time he joined his unit on 2 August 1916, the 26th Battalion was engaged in the Battle of Pozieres.

Pozieres was a small village located in the Somme valley, originally taken from German troops by the A.I.F 1st Division on the 23 July 1916. The 1st division struggled to hold the village after continuous artillery fire and counter attacks, but were eventually relieved by the 2nd Division, including the 26th Battalion. Lewis Smith joined his unit in the middle of mass attempts to defend Pozieres. By the time the 2nd Division was relieved from Pozieres, it had lost close to 7,000 soldiers. The 26th Battalion continued fighting in the Somme Valley throughout 1916. Whilst fighting in the cold and wet conditions with his unit on 5 November 1916, Private Lewis William Smith was killed in action during an unsuccessful attempt to capture enemy trenches near the French village of Flers. Unfortunately, it was impossible to find Lewis’ body and he is today commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.

His father, George was notified of his son’s tragic loss and received his belongings on 13 August 1917, nine months after Lewis’ death. The package contained Lewis’ wallet, some letters, a few photos and a belt. Five years later in 1922, George and Sarah Smith were sent a memorial plaque for their son, and another year later, inherited a victory medal Lewis had earned overseas.

SOURCES /BIBLIOGRAPHY

Australian War Memorial (2014) 26th Battalion Accessed 17/1/14, http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11213.asp

Australian War Memorial (2014) Roll of Honour – Pte Lewis William Smith Accessed 15/1/14 http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1661718/

Mapping our ANZACS (2013) Digital Images of NAA:B2455, SMITH L W,. Dated 4/11/1915 Accessed 16/1/14 http://mappingouranzacs.naa.gov.au/file-view.html?b=1786318&s=B2455&c=SMITH

National Archives of Australia (2014) Personal Service Records Item Details for: B2455, SMITH L W. Published 31st May 1996 Accessed 16/1/14 http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp Accessed 16/1/13

Wikipedia (updated 31 December, 2013) 26th Battalion (Australia) Accessed 17/1/14 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/26th_Battalion_(Australia)Medical Form

National Archives of Australia, WW1 Soldier Details series B2455, Smith, Lewis William. Medical form, dated 2 November 1915. Accessed 16/1/13

Field Service Record

National Archives of Australia, WW1 Soldier Details series B2455, Smith, Lewis William. Field Service record, dated 16 January 1917. Accessed 16/1/13 National Archives of Australia, WW1 Soldier Details series B2455, Smith, Lewis William. Casualty Form- Active Service, dates vary from 4/11/1915 to 11/11/16. Accessed 16/1/13 National Archives of Australia, WW1 Soldier Details series B2455, Smith, Lewis William. Attestation Paper, dated 4/11/1915. Accessed 16/1/13