PRIVATE WILLIAM BOWYER SMITH
3766 – 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Born in Wellingborough, Oxfordshire, England, the son of Edmund Brierley and Katherine (nee Turk) Smith.
William married Eveline Jubilett Tayloron 16 December 1911 at the St John's Church, Albany. Eveline was born on 12 December 1888 in Southwark, South Australia. Her father was Alfred Taylor (bootmaker in Albany) and mother Angelina Wilkinson.
The couple had three children; Edmund Bowyer Smith, born 1910; Florence Irene May Smith, born 1912 and Eveline Mary Smith, also known as "Mollie", born in 1914.
She is buried at the Denmark Western Australia cemetery and up a new headstone has just put up for her.
William supplied timber sleepers for the expanding rail network in Western Australia.
Williams’ youngest daughter Mollie died at 2 years of age from scalding. She is buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery.
William completed an ‘Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force’ on 22 May 1916.
He stated he was 38 years and 5 months, a widow, and listed his occupation as Sleeper Hewer and Farmer of Denmark, Western Australia.
He named as his Next-of-Kin his son Edmund Bowyer Smith, c/o Mrs. Florence A. Jones of Hill Street, South Perth. His sister Mrs. Henry Nockolds of Denmark, Western Australia was also named as Next-of-Kin. Katherine Elizabeth Nockolds, also of Denmark and also William’s sister, is also recorded on his Application.
George Phillip Jones, husband of Florence, was named as his Executor and was, with his wife, caring for William’s two surviving children, Edmund and Florence.
A medical examination was conducted the same day and his application was accepted. He signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ at Albany, Western Australia, also on 22 May.
A second medical examination recorded that he was 5ft 8½ins tall and weighed 11st 7lbs. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He recorded his faith as Church of England. Distinguishing marks included an appendics operation scar and vaccination scars.
Initially appointed to the 17th Reinforcements to the 25th Infantry Battalion on on 21 June 1916, William was admitted to hospital at Rockingham Camp for 138 days between 14 September 1916 to 30 January 1917.
He returned to the Details Camp at Karrakatta on 9 February 1917 and was transferred to the 25th Reinforcements to the 16th Infantry Battalion on that day.
On 20 February 1917 he was transferred to the Tunnelling Companies with the rank of Sapper and then appointed to the Mining Reinforcements at their Seymour (Victoria) Training Camp from 21 March 1917 to 1 April. He was a then member of the Tunnelling Companies from 2 April to 9 May 1917 when he was appointed to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion and joined the 9th Reinforcements for that unit.
William embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A9 Shropshireon May 11, 1917 with the Pioneer Reinforcements. There were also 173 members of the February Reinforcements for the Tunnellers on board whom William would have trained with while at Seymour, as well as a number of Reinforcements for other units, including the Pioneers. Of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion members on board, at least 29 had spent time with the Tunnelling Companies in Australia.
Shropshire 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 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 men on board Shropshire disembarked at Plymouth and William and the Pioneer Reinforcements marched in to the Pioneer Training Battalion at Fovant. Between 21 July and 14 August 1917 he was admitted to the Fovant Isolation Hospital and No.3 Com. Depot Isolation Depot Hospital, Hurdcott, for 28 days with mumps, which had swept through the Australian camp.
William proceeded overseas to France on 8 January 1918 and was taken on strength of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion on 13 January.
William Bowyer Smith was killed in action on 11 March 1918.
The 2nd Pioneer Battalion War Diary for 11 March records in part:
“Nieppe: 6 HE shells dropped into Nieppe. 6OR killed – 5OR evacd wounded – Compnaies moved out of billets making bivouacs around village.”
He was buried in plot I.G.3 in Pont-D'Achelles Military Cemetery, Nieppe, France. The cemetery is 3 miles North West of Armentieres.
The Australian War Memorial records seven members of the 2nd Pioneers dying on 11 March 1918. Red Cross files exist for 3312 Private Robert George BAKER:
2378 Private Simeon Edward Jordan HODGES was another killed and for whom a Red Cross file exists:
Photographs of his grave were forwarded by his unit to Base Records, Melbourne on 20 May 1919 and were forwarded to his Next-of-Kin on 19 September 1919. More Photographs of his grave were sent to his Next-of-Kin on 24 February 1921 and were received by Florence Jones as guardian to Edmund.
On 19 March 1921, Base Records acknowledged Florence’s remittance for three photographs and noted her change of address to Garfield Street, Narrogin, Western Australia.
Miss Jean Kirk of Johnson Street Ora Banda, Western Australia, wrote to Base Records on 16 April 1918 seeking confirmation that the ‘William Bowtmer Smith’ reported killed in action in the 389th roll of honour was 3766 Pvt William Bowyer Smith and, if so, seeking the address of the Next-of-Kin.
On 24 April 1918 Base Records confirmed that it was William who had been killed but were not permitted to supply the Next-of-Kin’s address without satisfactory reasons.
The Mutual Life and Citizens’ Assurance Co. Ltd. wrote to Base records on 27 May 1918 seeking a death certificate for William who had been assured by them. The certificate and identification particulars were provided on 1 July 1918.
William’s personal effects, including his diary, photos and letters, were returned to Australia per Barunga on 21 June 1918.
His British War Medal was sent to the Commandant 5th Military District (Western Australia) 27 May 1921.
The Pamphlet “Where The Australians Rest” was forwarded to his son Edmund Smith on 4 June 1921.
The Memorial Plaque was forwarded to his son Edmund Smith on 24 October 1922 and the Memorial Scroll and King’s message on 11 December 1922, the latter being received by Florence Jones on 22 December.
On 14 November 1922 Florence Jones wrote to Base Records:
“Dear Sir, please find enclosed memorial plaque receipt in memory of the late Pte W.B. Smith for which I thank you for on behalf of Edmund Bowyer Smith it being the only token he has of his late father.
I remain
Yours truly
Florence A Jones
PS if the graves are different to the one enclosed kindly send me a copy, enclosed please find stamps.”
PRIVATE HERBERT CHARLES SMITH
2532 – 51st Infantry Battalion
Charles Bertie Smith was born in 1885 at Gympie, Queensland, the son of Edmund Brierly and Katherine (nee Turk) Smith. Herbert C. Smith married Hannah Ions at Claremont, Western Australia in 1914.
After a medical examination which found him ‘fit for active service’, Herbert Charles Smith signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ on 2 March 1916 in Perth, Western Australia
He named as his Next-of-Kin his wife Hannah Smith of Brooks Road, Gosnells, Western Australia.
Herbert was 30 years and 8 months of age and a Pipe Moulder by trade. He was 5ft 10ins tall, weighed 155 lbs, had a florid complexion, brown eyes and brown hair and was of the Church of England faith.
He trained with the 53rd Depot Battalion until 4 April when he was transferred to the 13th Reinforcements to the 28th Infantry Battalion. On 3 May he began a course at the Non-commissioned Officers School and was transferred to the 51st Battalion with the rank of Corporal on 5 June 1916.
At Blackboy Hill Camp he was appointed to the 5th Reinforcements to the 51st Infantry Battalion on 15 August 1916,
Herbert embarked at Fremantle on board HMAT A66 Uganda on 20 September 1916, disembarking at Plymouth, England on 15 November 1916.
He marched in to the 13th Training Battalion, Codford, on 1 December 1916 and was promoted to Acting Corporal.
On 12 December he was admitted to Camp Isolation at the Military Hospital, Sutton Veny suffering mumps, returning to the Training Battalion on 1 January 1917.
He proceeded overseas to France on 3 February 1917 on board SS Princess Victoria and was taken on strength of the 51st Battalion on 10 February 1917.
On 10 March Herbert was awarded Forfeiture of 5 days pay for being in Etaples without a pass. On 21 March 1917 he was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No.2 for ‘Whilst on Active Service - Neglecting to obey an order given by an NCO.
Herbert Charles Smith was killed in action on 2 April 1917.
The Australian War Memorial records 47 members of the 51st Infantry Battalion dying in action that day. 22 of these men, including Herbert Charles Smith are commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
Commonwealth War Grave Commission records:
SMITH, Herbert Charles, Private, 2532, 51st Bn, - 2nd April 1917. Son of Edmond B. and Katherine Smith; husband of Hannah Smith of South Crescent Bayswater Western Australia. Born at Gympie Queensland.
Red Cross file for 2582A Private Charles Henry William ALP, who was killed on the same day and is also commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, record that he was buried near Noreuil at grid reference, Sheet 57C.N.W.C.9d.8.4
Red Cross files exist for 5721 Private Richard HOUSEGO, 51st Battalion, who was also killed on 2 April 1917:
On 24 June 1917 Pensions were approved for Hannah Smith, “The Strand”, Bayswater, at the rate of 40/- per fortnight, and for Edmund Charles, son, of the same address at the rate of 20/- per fortnight.
On 7 May 1917 Hannah wrote to the Defence Department requesting 4 death certificates for her husband as he had been insured in the Druids Lodge and stating ‘I am deeply grieved at his loss as he was a good & devoted husband to me’.
In July 1917 Hannah again wrote to Base records requesting a death certificate for her husband, expressing her hope ‘there is some mistake & that my dear lad is still alive’.
In November 1921 Hannah was residing at Slaith House, Lemington-on-Tyne, Northumberland, England.
In July 1924 Hannah was living at South Crescent, Bayswater, West Australia.
Herbert is commemorated with a tree and a plaque in Honour Avenue, Perth.
© Donna Baldey
with the assistance of Caron Walker, great granddaughter of William Bowyer Smith