SMITH, Arthur, Crief and Ernest

Arthur, Crief and Ernest were the sons of William and Elizabeth Smith who lived at Maidenhead near Tenterfield NSW. Crief, the first of the brothers to enlist, joined the 17th Battalion, 1st Reinforcement at Liverpool NSW in April 1915. A month later, at the age of twenty-three, he sailed from Australia for Egypt on HMAT A32 Themistocles. In November he was wounded at Gallipoli and sent to hospital in Malta for treatment, returning to duty two months later. During March 1916 he was sent to France where he was wounded again. He was transferred to England and admitted to Dundee War Hospital. He returned to Australia per hospital ship Wiltshire and was medically discharged in April 1917. Crief lived at Inverell and enlisted again for service during World War II.

Arthur enlisted at Inverell in January 1916 when he was twenty-six years old and working as a stockman near Tenterfield. Ernest enlisted at Inverell on 17 February 1916. He was twenty-one and working as a Station hand for Thomas Edmond at Emu Park Station, Texas, Qld. Arthur and Ernest joined other district men who formed the Second Contingent of the Kurrajongs and left Inverell together on 29 February 1916. In May the brothers sailed from Australia on HMAT A74 Marathon with the 33rd Battalion, 1st Reinforcement and after arriving in England, trained at Salisbury Plain.

In September 1916 Arthur was transferred to the 53rd Battalion and sent to France. He became seriously ill with pneumonia in December, was returned to England and admitted to Guildford Hospital. Eventually the decision was made to return him to Australia. He arrived home in May 1917 and was discharged six months later with a pension of three pounds per fortnight. After several weeks in hospital in Sydney, Arthur returned to his family. A Welcome Home was organised for him at the Bonshaw Hall where he was presented with an inscribed gold medal.

Ernest was sent to France with his Battalion in November 1916 and was wounded during the Battle of Messines in June 1917. He was invalided back to England where he was admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to his jaw. Ernest returned to Australia in March 1918 and was discharged in June.

The names of Ernest and Arthur are inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll. All three brothers have their names recorded on the Ashford and Bonshaw Honor Rolls.