Charles Henry Smith

Charles Henry Smith

[File:1st_Australian_Light_Railway_Operating_Company.jpg Unit's Colour Patch
Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Paramatta, New South Wales
Death	22 Jan 1954, aged 71
Place of Death	Perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	34 years, 7 months
Description	5'8" (1.73m) tall ; 150lbs 68.039 kg ; fresh complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Locomotive Driver
Religion	Church of England
Address	NOK 556 Beaufort street, Mt Lawley, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Alice Smith
Military Information
Reg Number	651
Date of Enlistment	1 Oct 1916
Rank	2nd Corporal
Unit/Formation	15th Australian Light Gauge Op Coy‎
Date of Embarkation	19 Feb 1917 ‒ 25 Apr 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A70 Ballarat Melbourne to Devonport
Date of Return	12 Mar 1918 ‒ ?? Mar 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Kenilworth Castle England to Durban
Date of Return	28 Apr 1918 ‒ 13 May 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Field Marshall Durban to Fremantle
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

On entering camp, Charles was allocated to the 91st Depot Company before being earmarked for Artillery reinforcements a fortnight later. As such he was sent to Victoria to undergo specialist training at Maribyrnong. On 8 Jan 1917 his pre war experience with the railways was identified, and he was transferred to the Railway Unit then being formed in response to requests from Britain. Promoted the same day to Second Corporal. The unit at this time was known as the 2nd Section, Australian Railway Operating Unit which embarked for England on 19 Feb 1917. Just prior to their arrival, however, at 2:00pm on 25 Apr 1917 in the English Channel, as a Anzac Day service was being held, the HMAT A70 Ballarat was torpedoed by U-boat UB-32, sinking the next day. All personnel were recovered.

On arrival in England they were sent to Borden in East Hampshire, the specialist training base for railway personnel, before proceeding overseas to France on 29 May 1917 where Charles was a member of the recently designated 15th Australian Light Railway Operating Company. This unit's final designation was 1st Light Railway Operating Company.

From 14 - 22 Jun 1917 Charles was treated by the 98th Field Ambulance for tonsillitis, before rejoining his unit, and on 4 Dec 1917 he was again hospitalised. This time he

On 8 Feb 1918 it was decided to sent Charles back to England, and he entered No. 2 Command Depot in Weymouth on 9 Feb 1918.

Discharged by the 5th Military District on 30 May 1918

Post War

Alice died on 10 Feb 1959 aged 72 in Mt Lawley