KIA

Thomas was born at Ballan (Ingliston), VIC in 1888 to Melville Smith and Diana McDonald. Thomas had a brother, Melville (KIA) and a cousin⁽²⁾, Gordon, who are also remembered in the Avenue.

click to enlarge
Headstone for Thomas's uncle
& grandfather at
Maddingley Cemetery
Courtesy of Carol & George Judkins.

Thomas was a labourer when he enlisted at Swan Hill, VIC in the AIF, 22^nd Battalion, A Company on the 3^rd of February 1915, aged a bit over 25. He embarked aboard the HMAT A38 Ulysses in May and disembarked in Egypt some time later.

At the end of August 1915 Thomas proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli). In mid December he was admitted to hospital, suffering from bronchitis, and evacuated back to Egypt and admitted to the 1^st Auxiliary Hospital, Alexandria. He embarked from Egypt in early May 1916 and disembarked at Marseilles, France a week later. In August he was transferred to the 6^th Machine Gun Company.

On the night of Nov. 22nd close to Flers a party of British soldiers were lost, and these two boys [T.H. SMITH 246 G. SCOTT 1298] volunteered to guide them to the front line. It was very dark and the country was very much shell swept. They all reached the front line and then Smith and Scott proceeded on their way back. My unit was relieved that night and I waited until daybreak for the 2 boys. The country over which they passed was very open to enemy rifle fire and it was impossible to send a search party out. I reported them as missing. Some time later, I recieved word from the unit in that part of the line , saying that the boys' bodies had been found and buried …. They were buried about 1500 yards North of Flers….

Source: Capt. Drummond C.O. 6th Machine Gun Company

He is listed on the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour. He is also remembered at the Nyah Memorial Gates and the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France.

Notes

1. He enlisted in the 22^nd Battalion but later transferred to the 6^th Machine Gun Company. Both units were part of the 6^th Infantry Brigade.
2. They are all grandsons of Tom Smith of Pentland Hills.
   - The Bacchus Marsh Express 17 Jul 1915