Smith Thomas Frank 7383

SAPPER THOMAS FRANK SMITH 7383 – 2nd Tunnelling Company

Thomas was the son of William H. and Barbara P. Smith.

Kalgoorlie Miner – WA – Tuesday 14 July 1896: NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AURIFEROUS LEASE. Notice is Hereby given that I, the under signed, have this day MADE APPLICA TION for a GOLD MINING LEASE under the Goldfields Regulation Act, of ground known as Crown Land, formerly known as forfeited Lease 2663E, containing about 24 acres, situated north of Lease 3373 “Corsair” line. As witness my hand and seal at Kalgoorlie, this 7th day of July, 1896. THOMAS FRANK SMITH.

In 1898 he married Edith Wining Soward at Albany, Western Australia.

Adelaide Observer – SA – Saturday 12 March 1898: MARRIAGES SMITH—SOWARD. — On the 3rd January, at St. John's Church, Albany, Western Australia, — by the Rev. Frederic Gillett, Thomas Frank Smith, youngest son of William H. Smith, of Devon, England, to Edith W. Soward, eldest daughter of William G. Soward, of Adelaide.

Edith Winny Soward was, according to the Phillips of Redruth Family Tree on ancestry.com, born on 27 August 1874 at North Adelaide, South Australia. Albany Advertiser – WA – Thursday 16 November 1899: NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A MINERAL LEASE. Notice is hereby given that I, the under signed, have made application this day for a lease, under the Mineral Lands Regulations, of ground known as Cousins Glory on East side of Lady Annabel, containing 30 acres, commencing at Datum Point, 24 chains 48 links South South East from North East corner of Lady Annabel, thence Northward along Eastern boundary for 24 chains, 48 links, then South East for 12 chains 24 links, then 24 chains, 48 links South West and 12 chains 24 links to Datum Point. As witness my band and seal at Albany this 15th day of November, 1899. (Sd.) THOMAS FRANK SMITH. Mining License, No 21. Date, October 16, 1899 225r

Albany Advertiser – WA – Tuesday 28 August 1900: NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR LEASE - No. 76 Notice is hereby given, that we, the under signed, have made application this day for a lease, under Mineral Lends Acts, 1892-99, of ground known as Break of Day, containing 24 acres, commencing at datum point 2½ chains North East from South East corner of Cousin's Glory, thence along Eastern boundary of said lease 22 chains, thence South East 11½ chains, thence South: West 23 chains, and 11½ chains to datum peg. Dated this 18th day of August, 1900 (Sd) THOMAS FRANK SMITH E W PERKINS By their agent EDWABD WM PEBKINS 447

Albany Advertiser – WA – Friday 11 July 1902: LEASES VOIDED. It is notified in the Government Gazette that the following leases on the Phillips River Field have been voided for non-payment of rent and penalties for the year 1902. No. 20, the Alpha, Walter Scott and Thomas Frank Smith ; Article Abridged

1903 and 1906 Electoral Rolls record Thomas Frank Smith, Contractor, living at Annabell, Kalgoorlie, WA, with Edith Winney Smith, home duties. In the 1910 Roll, Thomas is a Prospector living at Ravensthorpe, WA with Edith.

1916 Electoral Roll records Thomas Frank Smith, Farmer, living at Annabell Road, Ravensthorpe, WA, with Edith Winney Smith, home duties.

On 8 January 1917 at Ravensthorpe, Thos. F. Smith completed an ‘Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force’. A preliminary medical examination found him to be ‘Fit for Active Service’ and his Application was accepted on 20 January 1917.

On 8 February at Ravensthorpe he completed the ‘Attestation paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’, stating he was born at Newington, London, England and was a Farmer by trade. He named as his Next-of-Kin his wife, Edith Winnie Smith of Ravensthorpe, WA.

A medical examination the same day recorded that he was 42 years and 10 months of age; that he was 5ft 8¾ins tall and weighed 10 stone 5 pounds. He had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He was of the Salvation Army faith. It was noted that he required dental treatment.

Again he was found to be ‘fit for active service and Thomas signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ on 9 February 1917 at Blackboy Hill, West Australia.

He began his training at ‘D’ Depot and on 15 March was transferred to the 10th Reinforcements, 51st Infantry Battalion. On 16 March he was transferred to the Tunnelling Coys with the rank of Sapper.

On 10 April he was transferred to the Miners Reinforcements at Seymour, Victoria and on 21 May 1917 at Seymour, Victoria, he was appointed to the Tunnelling Coys. in preparation for embarkation.

Thomas embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on 4 August 1917 on board Themistocles.

The troopship HMAT A32 Themistocles with 167 Tunneller Reinforcements sailed from Melbourne, Victoria on August 4, 1917. The voyage across the Pacific was rough and stormy for several days causing sea sickness on board. As the ship reached the Tropics it became very hot. Colon, Panama was reached on August 31, 1917 and during an unavoidable eight-day delay very heavy rain and muggy conditions was endured. The transport docked at Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 18, 1917 and three days later left to experience good weather across the Atlantic arriving in Glasgow, Scotland on October 2, 1917 after a fifty-nine day voyage. The troops were entrained to Tidworth, England

One of the Tunnellers, 7427 Spr William James McPeak, died of acute transverse myalitis on 14 August and was buried at sea. He was one of 4 soldiers to die on this voyage.

On 3 October he marched in to Nos.1 & 3 Camps Details at Parkhouse and on 22 November 1917, Thomas proceeded overseas to France. He marched in to the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD) at Rouelles on 23 November. On 25 November he marched out to the 1st Anzac Corps Depot

He was attached to the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company (2ATC) on 3 December 1917 and was taken on strength of that unit on 7 December.

2ATC WAR DIARY - December, 1917: The Company was camped in HAVRINCOURT WOOD in the Cambrai Sector (Sheet 57c Q 7 d central) until the 16th, when it moved to YTRES (Sheet 57c P 20 d 90, 95) The work of the Company was in the CAMBRAI Sector, held by the IVth and Vth Corps.

2ATC had relieved the 172nd Tunnelling Company, R.E. in May 1916 in the Neuville St Vaast/Vimy area. They supported the Australian 5th Division at Fromelles and relieved the Canadians at the Bluff in January 1917. The Company moved to Nieuport in the same month, to construct subways for Operation Hush. Involved in enemy attack - Operation Strandfest - in this coastal sector in July 1917, recorded in the official histories as ‘The Affair at Nieuport Bains’. In April 1918, troops of 2ATC fought a large fire in Peronne.

Thomas reported sick on 20 July 1918 and was admitted to the 15th Australian Field Ambulance with gastro-enteritis. He was transferred to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station on 21 July and then transferred to Ambulance Train 7 on 28 July. He was admitted to the 16th General Hospital at Le Treport on 29 July.

Invalided to England on 15 August on Hospital Ship Aberdonian, he was admitted to University War Hospital, Southampton on 17 August with dysentery. Advice that he had been hospitalized was forwarded to his Next-of-Kin on 3 September. On 6 September he was transferred to the Dysentry Convalescent Hospital at Barton-on-Sea. Thomas was discharged from hospital to furlough on 9 October 1918, to report to No.1 Command Depot on 23 October. He left London on board Hospital Transport Ascanius on 9 February 1919, disembarking at Fremantle on 17 March.

On 25 March he underwent a medical examination on No.8 Australian General Hospital, Fremantle and was subsequently discharged from the A.I.F. on 17 April 1919. Thomas was entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

The 1919 through to 1936 Electoral Rolls record Thomas Frank Smith, Farmer, living at Annabell Road, Ravensthorpe, WA, with Edith Winney Smith, home duties.

Edith W. Smith died at Phillips River, WA in 1940.

The West Australian – Perth – Saturday 26 April 1941: IN MEMORIAM SMITH.- In loving memory of our Wife and Mother, who passed away April 26, 1940. Not Just today, but every day. In silence we remember. Inserted by her husband Frank and children, Barbara, Mollie, Bert and Mabel, also daughter-in-law Rita and sons-In law, Jim and Tom. SMITH.- In loving memory of my beloved Sister, Edith Smith, passed away April 26, 1940. In the garden of memories We meet every day. Inserted by her sister. E. Wall. SMITH.- In loving memory of our dear Friend, Edith W. Smith. Not Just today, but every day In silence we remember. Inserted by Myrtle Knox and sons.

Sunday Times, WA – Sunday 22 December 1940: AGRICULTURAL. BANK FARMING PROPERTIES GOLDSBROUGH MORT AND COMPANY LIMITED, sole selling agents for Agricultural Bank properties, invite TENDERS for the purchase of the undermentioned LAND and LEASES. Tenders are returnable on or before Monday, January 13, 1941, at the Perth office of the Company, and must be on the prescribed form, supplies of which are available at the Company's Head Office Perth, or any Branch Office or Agency: also from any District Office of the Agricultural Bank. 1147/19 SKB, Approx. 776 acres freehold and Conditional Purchase, situate 2 miles west of Ravensthorpe, being Oldfield Locations 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 286, 287, 29 and 23, registered In the name of Thomas Frank Smith. The land is described as 140 acres first class, 594 acres second class and the balance third class. 739 acres are cleared. Watered by 600 c.v. dam. 603 chains of fencing, of which 102 chains are netted. 5 room brick, wood and iron house, sheds. Article Abridged

In the 1943 Electoral Roll, Thomas is a Prospector living at Ravensthorpe, WA. n the 1949 through 1963 Rolls, Thomas is a Pensioner living at Nornalup, WA. The 1963 Roll records Thomas as ‘Retired’ living at 64 Justinian Street, Palmyra, WA. Unknown newspaper - 1968: Mr. Perth’s Diary BICTON-PALMYRA RSL take pride in having Frank Smith as a member despite him having been rejected for service in World War II. In the last war they didn’t take men of 70. So Frank Smith had to sit back on a notable record as a World War I soldier and today, at 94, he is probably the oldest living RSL member in WA. They say of Frank Smith that after swallowing his disappointment over age keeping him out of the last war he accepted the next best thing offering in the line of essential duty. He went to work as an engine driver at Menzies. Frank Smith, the patriarch of the livewire Bicton-Palmyra sub-branch, was enrolled as No. 7383 with the 2 Tunnelling Corps in the first AIF in 1915 and trained as a despatch rider at Blackboy. He was fighting in France the same year and continued to serve in France for the duration and still has vivid memories of the grim Battle of the Somme. It is of additional interest that the nonogenarian was one of the early prospectors for gold in the Ravensthorpe area. He was living at Hopetoun in 1898when it was known as Mary Anne Harper. He returned to Ravensthorpe after the war and turned to farming when mining slumped (Ravensthorpe has since undergone revival with soaring world prices for copper and Japanese interest). He became an Agricultural Bank (now R & I) inspector and served in that capacity until 1940. Meanwhile he served as secretary of Ravensthorpe RSL sub-branch for 20 years. Today he lives with his daughter at Palmyra and the local sub-branch, as I said, is delighted to have one of the State’s senior soldiers on its roll.

Unknown newspaper – 1968: RSL Veteran 94 Oldest in Branch A Great War Veteran is now the oldest member of Bicton-Palmyra RSL sub- branch. He is 94-year-old Frank Smith of Justinian-st, Palmyra, who has been a member of the sub-branch for only 18 months, but of other branches for nearly 50 years. His membership started at Ravensthorpe in 1919 after he returned from two years active service in France with the 2nd Tunnelling Company of engineers. He first tried his hand at farming, but later turned to prospecting, claiming to have been one of the first prospectors in the Ravensthorpe area. “I was always chasing the elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, a very chancy business,” he said. “A big find never came my way, but I managed to make enough to keep our heads above water.” In 1941 Mr. Smith moved to Nornalup and there joined the Walpole RSL. But before his departure, the Ravensthorpe sub-branch made him a life member. Mr. Smith as secretary of the Walpole sub-branch for many years and before he came to stay with his daughter in Palmyra 18 months ago he lived alone in a small house at Nornalup. Though age has weakened him physically, he is still mentally alert and can read without glasses. “He is 20 years younger mentally than he is physically,” said his widowed daughter, Mrs. Mabel Knox. “World affairs still interest him and he listens to most news broadcasts. Mr. Smith is not well enough to attend RSL meetings now, but is still a keen member. Born a London cockney, he came to WA alone in an Orient Line steamer at the age of 17. “My family was always quarrelling, so I decided to leave,” he said. He has four children and is now a great-great-grandfather. Image at right accompanied this article Thomas Frank Smith died at Palmyra, WA on 1 August 1968 aged 94 years. He is memorialized at Fremantle Cemetery, Crematorium J., Site 1, Position 0017.