Kenneth Smitham

The Smitham family hailed from Cornwall, England.  William arrived on the ship “Constance” in 1850 and became a farmer at Penfield.   William aged 26 years old and his wife Sarah Newell aged 20 years old married on the 21 March 1861 at Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide and had the following children;

              Samuel Henry was born on the 3 April 1870 at Peachey Belt.

              Edith Annie was born on the 7 July 1872 at Peachey Belt.

              Edmund John was born on the 22 October 1874 at Enfield.

              Ada Emily was born on the 4 April 1876 at Penfield.

Edgar Herbert Stanley was born on the 13 September 1880 at Penfield.

George Wesley was born on the 6 March 1883 at Peachey Belt.

William Alfred was born on the 12 November 1883 at Peachey Belt.

Charles Gordon was born on the 18 April 1885 at Penfield.

Sarah Jane Newell was born on the 26 October 1885 at Peachey Belt.

Elizabeth Alfredia was born on the 6 February 1888 at Peachey Belt.

William died on the 2 August 1909 aged 76 years old at Penfield and his wife died on the 12 August 1923 aged 81 years old at Penfield.

The eldest son, Samuel Henry married Eleanor Frances Mayes on the 14 May 1895 at Salisbury

Samuel and Eleanor were and had the following children;

              Dora Elsie was born on the 4 September 1895 at Salisbury.

              Kenneth was born on the 15 September 1897 at Salisbury.

              Glen Allan was born on the 3 February1900 at Nailsworth.

Samuel died on the 4 October 1925 aged 55 years old and Eleanor died on the 4 September 1930 aged 59 years old at Virginia.

Kenneth stated that he was 21 years old (he was really 19 years old) when he enlisted at the end of January 1916.  He worked as a blacksmith.  He was assigned to the 17^th Reinforcements, 10^th Battalion.  Whilst in training at Mitcham he was charged with talking on parade after being warned.  He was awarded 5 days Confined to Camp on the 24 August 1916. 

He proceeded overseas on the 5 September 1916 on the “Aeneas” and began fighting in France.  Two bouts of sickness saw him hospitalised before he was wounded in action on the 30 April 1917.  He received a gunshot wound to his shoulder.  He was transported to England and was admitted to the Birmingham War Hospital.

“He acted as a donor for a blood transfusion in the case of Private Ladyman of the 20^th Canadian Battalion at the Canadian Casualty Station on the 10 November 1917.  The person in charge of this Station trusts that this gallant sacrifice will be recorded on the soldier’s documents.”  He provided a witness account to the death of Private Duncan, where Kenneth was wounded also.  He was in a fatigue party when a shell fell right among them, killing Private Duncan and wounding Kenneth.  Kenneth went into a dug out, and Private Duncans’ body was brought in and left with Canadian soldiers who would bury the body.

Kenneth was not in France for long however, he was admitted to Lord Derby War Hospital in Warrington, England with synovitis of the right knee.

Later he proceeded overseas for France from Longbridge Deverille via Folkstone.  He resumed fighting and was wounded in action again on the 30 June 1918.  He was reported to his family as being “dangerously ill” as he had gunshot wounds to his face, neck, back, compound fractures of his tibia, fibula and radius (severe).  He was moved from Rouen Hospital to the Military Hospital, St. Dunstan’s,  Hammersmith.  His family had four dangerous reports and three serious reports and finally declared “out of danger” on the 22 August 1918.

Kenneth was declared an invalid a week later.  He was returned to Australia via the Hospital Ship “Kenmore”.  He received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Kenneth died on the 19 December 1975 aged 78 years old.

His name appears on the Virginia Memorial scroll.