Military History

Smith attended Machine Gun School 25.6.1917.
Embarked Fremantle per SS ‘Canberra’ for Egypt 24.11.1917.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 1st Machine Gun Squadron.
Smith disembarked at Suez and marched in to the Reinf. Camp at Moascar 12.12.1917. He transferred to the 3rd Machine Gun Squadron at Moascar 23.1.1918 .He was taken on strength in the field 23.5.1917. Smith became ill 22.2.1918 and was admitted to 26th Casualty Clearing Station at Ludd 26.8.1917. He was transferred to the 36th Stationary Hospital at Gaza 28.8.1917, then to the 24th Stationary Hospital at Kantara. Smith returned to his unit at Moascar 20.8.1917. He then became sick and was diagnosed with Malaria 5.9.1918 and was admitted to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital in Moascar. He was then sent to convalesce at Port Said 19.9.1917. Smith’s malaria flared again and he was sent to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital 3.10.1918. Smith marched out to his MGC 21.11.1918. Smith was demobilised with no apparent malarial symptoms in 1918.
Embarked Cairo per HMAT ‘Oxfordshire’ 10.7.1919.
Returned/Disembarked at Fremantle 4.8.1919
Final Rank Private, 3rd Machine Gun Squadron.
Medical Condition NK (had shown post malarial symptoms)
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos HMAT 'Canberra'  taking coal onboard in Columbo 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM C0333
             3rd Machine Gun Squadron 1917 at Khurbetha-Ibn-Harith.Photographer F. Hurley, photograph source AWM B01489
             HS 'Oxfordshire'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P04714.005

Information Source
AWM C0333. HMAT 'Canberra'  taking coal onboard in Columbo 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM B01489. 3rd Machine Gun Squadron 1917 at Khurbetha-Ibn-Harith.Photographer F. Hurley, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P04714.005. HS 'Oxfordshire'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll Frank Drummond Smit
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455, Smith FD


‘Beambine’, Pingelly, WA.

Associated Images