Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Walter Charles Smith

Ancestor's date of birth: 09/01/1882

Ancestor's date of death: 05/10/1917

Cause of Death: Killed in Action Belgium 5 October 1917

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Farmer/fruit grower

Service Number: 609

Colony or State of enlistment: NSW Place of Enlistment: Windsor

Unit: 2^nd NSW Mounted Rifles

Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 1901

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): SGT, Date Effective: 01/09/1917

Murray Page: 120

Contingent: Fifth New South Wales

Ship: Custodian, Date of Sailing: 17/03/1901

Memorial details: Australian War Memorial, Canberra; Menin Gate, Belgium; Australian War Memorial, Villers Bretonneux, France.

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Transvaal, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 clasps. British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Personal Characteristics: Height 177 cm, weight 68 kg (1916).

Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided.

Details of service in war: April 1901 - April 1902 in west then east Transvaal.

Service and life after the Boer War: Was a fruit grower at Wilberforce NSW. Continued to serve in the 3^rd Australian Infantry Regiment. Married Bathia - had one son aged 10 at the time of his death.
Enlisted in the AIF on 25 January 1916 2^nd Battalion, 18^th Reinforcement Promoted to Sergeant 29 September 1917 Killed in Action 5 October 1917, aged 35, no known grave.
Memorial - 29 The Ypres (Menin Gate) Belgium (Panel 7) Buried by 5th Pioneer Battalion AIF at (approx) J.4.a.10.8 Australian War Memorial Canberra - His name is located on the Roll of Honour in panel 34 in the Commemorative Area.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Pam Deane, Beecroft NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great niece

Name of Descendant: Ian Douglas Smith, Moonee Beach NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson

Name of Descendant: Jason Lloyd Smith, Varsity Lakes QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Grandson

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