Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Brother of E. H. Smith, of Guise St., Temuka, Canterbury. Native of Fairlie, Canterbury.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum's Cenotaph database (see link belkow) includes some fantastic documents attached to his profile by Jonathan Gerard, which he sums up as follows:William Alexander Smith was born on 13 June 1891, in Christchurch. At the outbreak of the First World War William was working as a farmer for Julius Siegert, of Fairlie, when he volunteered with the first forces to leave New Zealand to serve (the “Main Body”). Locally men flocked to volunteer, with preference going firstly to men of the Territorial Forces, then to civilians with military experience – all were to be aged between 20 and 35. Volunteers were first selected from local Territorial units - the 2nd (South Canterbury) Regiment and the 8th (South Canterbury) Mounted Rifles - then from men with military experience, and finally from civilians. After a medical inspection 120 men of the 8th (South Canterbury) Mounted Rifles were placed under the command of Major Wain, a farmer from Studholme. Another 240 men of the 2nd (South Canterbury) Regiment were placed under Captain (later Major) David Grant. Having previously served with the cadets, then the territorial forces with the 8th Canterbury Mounted Rifles it was no surprise that, after his attestation for service, on 13 August, William was posted to the Canterbury Mounted Rifles

William’s official attestation papers list him as aged 23, 5 foot five inches tall, weighing 140 pounds (about 63.5 kg). He had a light complexion, blue eyes, with light brown hair. He was apparently also already missing a somewhat significant piece of his upper right thigh. Otherwise he appears to have had a good chest, hearing, well-formed limbs, good teeth, and was generally free from disease and defect, and had evidence of vaccination.

In late September, only six weeks after the declaration of war, troops from Canterbury left their training camp at Addington and boarded the Athenic at Lyttelton. Initially the troops from Canterbury only went on to Wellington. There they linked up with troops from other provinces for their last few weeks of training at Trentham military camp. Finally the NZEF embarked for France on 16 October 1914 on ten troopships, which linked up with the AIF (Australian Imperial Force) before heading across the Indian Ocean. The entry of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) into the war in late October resulted in a change of plans - the force now disembarked in Egypt rather than France as originally intended. In Egypt training, more training, and sightseeing around Cairo followed the troops arrival. In April the South Canterbury Infantry, but not the Mounted Rifles, were committed to the invasion of Gallipoli. The landings did not go as planned so, with the invasion of Gallipoli staling, reinforcements were required. Therefore, in mid-May the New Zealand Mounted Rifles arrived, including the South Canterbury troopers, to fight without their horses. The Mounted Riflemen were soon in action on the left of ANZAC in battles over outposts. During this time conditions saw William suffer. He was admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) on 16 July 1915 with gastric enteritis. He was transferred the following day to Mudros until 28 July, before being discharged back to duty on 1 August.

In August an ambitious plan was launched to break the deadlock on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It involved capturing the heights above ANZAC and a new landing to the north. In the complex attack the Mounted Rifles were to clear a path for the Infantry to the take the important hill Chunuk Bair. The Canterbury Mounted Rifles took part in night time attacks, taking Walden’s Point and Bauchop’s Hill. In darkness the Canterbury Infantry became lost and by dawn were behind schedule. Then disaster struck, the Canterbury soldiers were spotted and came under enemy fire which cut them to pieces. By early afternoon only 50 men out of the original 700 were able to continue fighting. Chunk Bair was captured, then lost by other troops, so the assault failed.

In late August another assault was attempted. The New Zealand Mounted Rifles were to capture a feature called Hill 60 between the ANZAC and northern positions. But by now the South Canterbury Mounted Rifles Squadron was a shadow of its former self; only 43 remained out of a full strength of 169 men. In two daylight attacks the men charged the Ottoman positions and suffered heavy casualties for little gain. The repeated attacks saw the South Canterbury Squadron basically shot out of existence. Among locals who fell were the Timaru Mayor’s son Ben Guinness, champion boxer Jim Hagerty, and the revered Timaru doctor Charles Thomas. Trooper William Smith suffered a gun shot wound to his left leg on 21 August and was subsequently evacuated on the hospital ship ‘Franconia’. Sadly William died of his wounds during the voyage back to England.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum's Cenotaph database (see link below) includes some fantastic documents attached to his profile by Jonathan Gerard, which he sums up the letters he shared on the AWMMs website as follows: "Self explanatory really. William was shot through both legs attacking Hill 60 Gallipoli on the 21st August 1915. He had been suffering dysentery prior to the battle. He died on the ship Franconia on the 26th August 1915 on his way to Gibraltar or England, he was buried at sea. The first letter is from Alan D Johnstone CofE Chaplain to the troops, Johnson was only recently assigned to his role and I would say that this voyage with wounded troops may have been his first so in a way I would say the letter is a template for others. The second letter from the NZ Capt Hutton clarifies detail of the battle. William Smith is a common name and Hutton is not as close to Williams last days as the chaplain, so I tend to discount what he says about him being buried in Gibraltar. I have since seen many records of ANZACS being buried at sea. None so accurate in location as Johnsons."

One letter in particular details William’s death and burial at sea, after he died on board the Hospital Ship Franconia:

“Dear Madam

It is with very great regret indeed that I write to tell you of the death of Mr W.A. Smith Trooper 7/124 Otago Mounted Rifles, and I do send you my very sincere sympathy. It seems so hard to lose him when he is so far from home. He came away from the Gallipoli Peninsula on the Hospital ship Gloucester Battle on Monday Aug 23rd. That night he was transferred to the Franconia on which ship I was the chaplain. This ship is a very large one and Mr Smith was placed in a large room with other patients severely injured. Mr Smith was shot through both legs. He was there two days or thereabouts, he passed away at 12:30am on Thursday Aug 26th 1915 or about 50 hours from his being brought on to the Franconia. His death was felt very much and it must be a great loss to you and the rest of his relations. We were just leaving Mudros Harbour in the Island of Lemnos on our way to England with the wounded and Mr Smith was buried at sea at noon on the same day as that on which he passed away (Aug 26th) in the Aegean Latitude 37.12 North and Longitude 24.38 East. I took the service. With my sincere sympathy and my regret at the loss of so good a man, and praying that God will comfort you.

Yours Faithfully

Alan D Johnson Chaplain to the forces Church of England”

William’s service medals, scroll and plaque were sent to his brother, E. H. Smith of Temuka. These included the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Sources

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Tony Rippin (South Canterbury Museum)

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.