Reginald Arthur Smith

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Reginald Arthur Smith was born in Orange in 1891, the son of [[John Smith]] and his wife [[Elizabeth Anne Velvin]]. Elizabeth was the youngest of three daughters of John Velvin (d1918 Newcastle NSW) and wife Elizabeth Velvin (nee Candy, d1906, buried Orange Anglican Cemetery).
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Reginald Arthur Smith was born on 22 May, 1891 in Orange NSW, the first son of [[John Smith]] and his wife [[Elizabeth Candy Smith]] (nee Velvin). A brother, Herbert, followed in 1892 and a sister, Doris, in 1896.
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Originally from Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire in the UK, the Velvin family came to Australia settling in Orange in the late 1880s. John and Elizabeth were married at the [[Holy Trinity Church]] in Orange in May 1890. At the time John was working for Wright Heaton and Co in Orange and Borenore. John’s father was Thomas Smith, a wheelwright and coachbuilder with coachworks in [[McNamara Lane]], Orange until about 1910.
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Reginald’s father, John, was a 3rd generation master cabinet–maker who worked for [[Dalton Brothers]] store in Orange. He was Mayor of East Orange in 1898-9 and 1901 and, with his wife Elizabeth, was instrumental in the establishment of the [[East Orange Post Office]] in [[Summer Street East]], which opened in December 1901 and is still in operation.
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On December 1, 1901 the Smiths opened the [[East Orange Post Office]], with Elizabeth as postmistress. John worked as a master cabinet maker with [[Dalton Bros Stores]], and was Mayor of East Orange in 1898-1899 and 1901.
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Reginald was working as an accountancy clerk with Wright Heaton & Co in Newcastle when he enlisted in the 1st AIF in April 1915, aged 24.
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By 1918 the Smiths had moved to Newcastle, where John had secured a promotion with Wright Heaton and Co. Reginald was working as an accountancy clerk with the company when he enlisted in April 1915, aged 24.
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He sailed on the ''Runic'' to the Middle East on 9 August 1915, and was at Gallipoli in November 1915 as Acting Corporal in the 8th Reinforcements of the 2nd Infantry Battalion. Following the evacuation from Gallipoli, Reginald proceeded to Alexandria in Egypt, where he was promoted to Sergeant in the newly formed 5th Division of the 54th Battalion. He later served with the 55th Battalion.
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He sailed on the ''Runic'' to the Middle East on 9 August 1915, and was at Gallipoli in November 1915 as Acting Corporal in the 8th Reinforcements of the 2nd infantry Battalion. Following the evacuation from Gallipoli Reginald proceeded to Alexandria in Egypt, where he was promoted to Sergeant in the newly formed 5th Division of the 54th Battalion.
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By August 1916 Reginald had been appointed Lieutenant and was stationed in France, where he was wounded in April 1918. He remained in France until December 1918. After armistice he was posted to England with the Pay Office, returning to Australia aboard the ''Armagh'' in May 1919.
By August 1916 Reginald had been appointed Lieutenant and was stationed in France, where he was wounded in April 1918. He remained in France until December 1918. After armistice he was posted to England with the Pay Office, returning to Australia aboard the ''Armagh'' in May 1919.
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In 1937 Reginald married Ethel Alice Thomas. The couple settled in Cremorne in Sydney and did not have any children. Reginald died in Royal North Shore Hospital in 1969.
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In 1937 Reginald married Ethel Alice Thomas. The couple settled in Cremorne in Sydney and did not have any children. Reginald died in Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, on 28 July 1969, aged 78.
Reginald's brother [[Herbert Velvin-Smith]] also served in WWI.
Reginald's brother [[Herbert Velvin-Smith]] also served in WWI.
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*  Jane Silvester, 2014
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*  Jane Silvester, 2015
[[File:Ww1Blog.jpg|200px|thumb|right|]]
[[File:Ww1Blog.jpg|200px|thumb|right|]]
[[Category:Service Men and Women|Smith-Reginald-Arthur]]
[[Category:Service Men and Women|Smith-Reginald-Arthur]]

Revision as of 06:44, 25 August 2015

Reginald Arthur Smith 6 August 1915. Image courtesy Mrs Ruth Velvin-Gilchrist.


SMITH, Reginald Arthur

Service no: 2689 [1]

Place of birth: Orange, 1891

Address: c/- Messrs Wright, Heaton and Co, Newcastle

Occupation: Clerk to Public Accountant

Next of kin: John Smith (father), c/- Messrs Wright, Heaton and Co, Newcastle

Date of enlistment: 29 April 1915

Place of enlistment: Liverpool

Age at enlistment: 23

Fate: Embarked HMAT A54 Runic Sydney 9 August 1915. Joined 2nd Battalion, 8th Reinforcements, Gallipoli, 4 November 1915. Transferred to 54th Battalion 14 February 1916. Promoted to Corporal 1 May 1916. Promoted to Sergeant 24 May 1916. Promoted to Temporary Corporal 1 March 1916. Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant 23 August 1916. Admitted to New Zealand Stationary Hospital, France 28 January 1917. Rejoined unit 4 February 1917. Embarked to join 14th Training Battalion England 19 July 1917. Proceeded to France 3 March 1918. Admitted to 3rd General Hospital suffering a gunshot wound to the neck 23 April 1918. Transferred to 55th Battalion 11 October 1918. Embarked for England 24 December 1918. Returned to Australia 20 May 1919.

Date of death: 28 July 1969


Reginald Arthur Smith was born on 22 May, 1891 in Orange NSW, the first son of John Smith and his wife Elizabeth Candy Smith (nee Velvin). A brother, Herbert, followed in 1892 and a sister, Doris, in 1896.

Reginald’s father, John, was a 3rd generation master cabinet–maker who worked for Dalton Brothers store in Orange. He was Mayor of East Orange in 1898-9 and 1901 and, with his wife Elizabeth, was instrumental in the establishment of the East Orange Post Office in Summer Street East, which opened in December 1901 and is still in operation.

Reginald was working as an accountancy clerk with Wright Heaton & Co in Newcastle when he enlisted in the 1st AIF in April 1915, aged 24.

He sailed on the Runic to the Middle East on 9 August 1915, and was at Gallipoli in November 1915 as Acting Corporal in the 8th Reinforcements of the 2nd Infantry Battalion. Following the evacuation from Gallipoli, Reginald proceeded to Alexandria in Egypt, where he was promoted to Sergeant in the newly formed 5th Division of the 54th Battalion. He later served with the 55th Battalion.

By August 1916 Reginald had been appointed Lieutenant and was stationed in France, where he was wounded in April 1918. He remained in France until December 1918. After armistice he was posted to England with the Pay Office, returning to Australia aboard the Armagh in May 1919.

In 1937 Reginald married Ethel Alice Thomas. The couple settled in Cremorne in Sydney and did not have any children. Reginald died in Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, on 28 July 1969, aged 78.

Reginald's brother Herbert Velvin-Smith also served in WWI.


  • Jane Silvester, 2015
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