SMITH, William

William’s birth to Peter and Amelia Smith was registered at Warialda in 1879. He was working as a Labourer when he enlisted at Warialda on 27 January 1916.  With other district men he joined with the Second Contingent of the Kurrajongs when they left on 29 February for the Narrabri camp.

He became a member of the 33rd Battalion, 1st Reinforcement which trained at Armidale and Rutherford prior to leaving Australia on HMAT A74 Marathon in May 1916.  After arriving in England in July he attended Perham Downs Trench Mortar School for training.  Following his transfer to the 9th Light Trench Mortar Battery he went to France in November.  Three months later he was Killed in Action on 25 February 1917 and buried at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, France. His mother requested the following verse to be inscribed on his headstone:- 

          To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die

          Gone but not forgotten

William’s few remaining personal effects were returned to his father. Private William Smith’s name is recorded on the Warialda Honor Roll.