William James Smith
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 16 Jul 1905 |
| Place of Birth | Devonshire, England |
| Death | 15 Mar 1959. aged 53 |
| Place of Death | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 36 years, 4 months RAAF |
| Description |
5'8" (1.73m) tall ; 164lbs 74.389 kg ; medium complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Congregational |
| Address | Ninth road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr. Charles John Smith |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 46063 |
| Date of Enlistment | 27 Nov 1941 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | No. 1 Medical Receiving Station |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Remained in Australia |
| Medals |
Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
Prior to enlisting had completed two terms of TAFE night school Fitting & Turning xourse. In melbourne had spent the last three months in a Munitions factory using a turret lathe.
War Service
Prior to enlisting in te RAAF, Bill had served in the CMF unit the 13th Field Ambulance for 11 months, the last eight full time. Bill enlisted in the RAAF at No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre on 27 Nov 1941, he was initially mustered as an Aircrafthand. Bill began with a posting on 27 Nov 1941 to No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF at Pearce where he participated in the No. P137 Recruit Drill course from 27 November until 31 December. He was posted on 26 Jan 1942 to No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School RAAF at Port Pirie in South Australia, where on 24 Jun 1942 he was appointed Leading Aircraftman.
Seeking a change, on 11 Jul 1943 he was posted to RAAF Base Laverton where on 15 July he began a couse for Medical Orderly conducted by the Medical Training Unit. On 6 Aug 1943 he reverted to Aircraftman on remustering as a Medical Orderly, but was again appointed Leading Aircraftman on 15 Nov 1942. He was transferred on 23 Sep 1943 to No. 75 Operational Base Unit RAAF at the Fossil Downs Station in the Kimberly Region. He was then transferred to the No. 227 Radar Station RAAF on 19 Dec 1943, remaining with them until 2 Nov 1944 when he was placed in the No. 6 Central Reserve RAAF.
On 13 Feb 1945 Bill was posted to a holding unit in Adelaide, the No. 4 Personnel Depot RAAF. On 2 Mar 1945 this changed to No. 2 Reserve Personnel Pool RAAF at Coomalie in the Northern Territory, and on 7 Mar 1945 this changed to No. 1 Medical Receiving Station RAAF where he was promoted Temporary Corporal on 1 Jun 1945. Finally on 9 Jan 1946 Bill returned to Western Australia and was placed on staff at the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF. On 12 Feb 1946 he transferred to their Discharge Section where he was discharged on 1 Mar 1946.
Post War
Notes