Laurence Harold Smith
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 4 Mar 1923 |
| Place of Birth | Bridgetown, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 years, 3 months |
| Description |
5'4¾" (1.65m) tall ; 116lbs 52.617 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair |
| Occupation | Truck driver |
| Religion | Congregational |
| Address | Karragullen, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Horace Harold Smith |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 45001 & A52416 |
| Date of Enlistment | 12 Jun 1941 |
| Rank | Leading Aircraftsman |
| Unit/Formation | No. 31 Squadron RAAF |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Remained in Australia |
| Medals |
Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
Education standard reached was Grade 7 standard, with no High School available.
War Service
Laurence enlisted on 12 Jun 1941, was mustered as an Aircrafthand, and from then until 18 Jul 1941 Laurence he undertook a Recruit Drill Course at No. 4 Recruit Depot at Pearce. On 28 Jul 1941 he was posted to No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF in Geraldton. On 31 Mar 1942 Laurence was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman. Soon after he participated in No 49 Trainee Group II (Fitter) Course at No. 2 School of Technical Training RAAF in Canberra from 27 Apr until 19 Jun 1942. Next Laurence was posted on 20 Jun 1942 to No. 1 Engineering School RAAF at Ascot Vale to participate in No 150 Trainee Flight Rigger's Course. There on 23 Aug 1942 he was remustered as a Flight Rigger. As was normal on re-mustering to a higher pay group, he reverted to Aircraftsman Level 1. Laurence was charged on 2 Sep 1942 with having been AWOL from 7:40am 29 Aug 1942 until 11:00am 1 Sep 1942. Found to be guilty, he was awarded 14 days Confined to Barracks, and forfeited 4 day's pay.
On 19 Sep 1942 he was posted to the Pearce airbase Headquarters unit. However, in early November it was back east with a posting on 5 Nov 1942 to No. 4 Embarkation Depot RAAF in Adelaide. Finally, on 20 Jan 1943 he was posted to No. 55 Operational Base Unit RAAF at Gorrie Airfield in the Northern Territory. There, they were on aircraft listening watch obtaining information on success or otherwise of raids on enemy positions. Perhaps this didn't suit him, as on 26 Jan 1943 Laurence joined No. 31 Squadron RAAF at Coomalie Creek Northern Territory, and was promoted the same day to Leading Aircraftsman. Remaining in the 'Territory', on 27 May 1943 he was posted to No. 6 Communications Flight RAAF, renamed on 29 Oct 1943 as No. 6 Communication Unit RAAF.
After 13 months in the Northern Territory Laurence was posted to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF in Perth on 26 Jun 1944. While waiting for a posting, he travelled to Victoria, specifically to No. 1 Engineering School RAAF at Ascot Vale to participate in the No. 198 Fitter IIA Conversion Course from 17 Aug to 8 Nov 1944. He was remustered Fitter II A the next day, reverting again to Aircraftsman Level 1. On 20 Nov 1944 he was posted to No. 14 Squadron RAAF at Pearce where on 12 Feb 1945 he was for a third time promoted to Leading Aircraftsman. Working on Avro Ansons Laurence had a short detachment from 31 May - 27 Jun 1945 to No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF in Geraldton. With the war over, on 26 Nov 1945 he joined No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF in Perth to prepare for his discharge which occurred on 4 Dec 1945.
Post War
In early 1952 Laurence was working for Mr J.H. O'Meagher of Karragullen as a timber faller. On 21 May 1952 Laurence enlisted in the RAAF Active Reserve. At the time he and his wife Joan Gwendoline (nee Dixon) had 6 children. The family's home address was Beverley road, Karragullen.
Electoral Roll entries: 1954 Beverley road, Karragullen, woodcutter; 1958 1977at 40 Adrian street, Palmyra, storeman 1980 at 23 Koolinda street falcon, saw doctor.
Notes