Private 3239

57th Battalion

Leongatha, Victoria

His wife Maud Lucy Smith of Brunswick. He had 3 daughters, Maud, Jean and Bernice.

21/11/1916

Age 27 years 7 months, 6'1" 156 pounds, grey eyes and brown hair

Presbyterian

Farmer

He was killed in action on 26/9/1917

He was killed when his unit was in the rear trenches at Glencourt Wood

The remains of the men were buried together and a rifle and helmet marked the position of the grave.

He was from the Koorooman East area. He attended Koorooman State School and Scotch College.


He has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate Belgium
He is on the Koorooman East Honour Roll
21/11/16 He enlisted
16/12/16 He embarked Melbourne on HMAT Media
18/2/17 He disembarked Plymouth
He was in the 15th Training Battalion
14/5/17 He went to France via Folkestone
15/5/17 He was at Etaples
28/5/17 He marched out to the 57th Battalion
26/9/17 He was killed in action
A report on the death of Robert Smith by Lt J Moore of Leongatha Victoria. He was about 30 yards away from me, we were preparing for an attack on Polygon Wood working in the trench at the rear of Glencourt Wood. The Germans guessing our intensions put up a heavy artillery barrage, one of the shells landed in the trench where Smith and 8 others were working. All these men were killed instantly and their remains were all buried together in the same grave. A rifle and helmet marked the position of the grave.
His wife Maud was granted a pension of 40/- per fortnight from 20/12/17. Maud daughter received 20/- per fortnight, Jean Smith daughter received 15/- per fortnight and Bernice Smith daughter 10/-
He left his estate to Maud
His will was signed by Harry Sharpe and Herbert Hale both of the 57th Battalion. The will was dated 9th June 1917
28/11/22 Maud received his memorial scroll
Maud also received all his medals