People Australia

Sydney O ’Carroll Smith, c 1915 by unknown photographer

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

SYDNEY O’CARROLL SMITH was born on 18th December, 1891, at Christchurch, New Zealand, the son of Mr. Henry and Mrs. Mary Eleanor Smith, and received his education at Wellington College, New Zealand. He joined the Bank’s service at Masterton, New Zealand, on 8th April, 1909; and was transferred to Brisbane on 19th June, 1911; to Townsville, Queensland, on 24th July, 1913; and to Cloncurry, as teller, on 24th June, 1914.

Sydney O’Carroll Smith enlisted at Townsville on 20th August, 1914, with the 45th (Queensland) Battalion, and embarked with the first Australian Expeditionary Force. He was present at the Gallipoli Landing, and was subsequently promoted to the rank of sergeant. In August, 1915, he was sent to England suffering from enteric fever, and was transferred to the 9th Battalion London Rifle Brigade in December, 1915, receiving a commission as second-lieutenant.

He left for France on 10th May, 1916, took part in the Somme battle, and on 24th August, at Delville Wood, he received wounds in the side from which he succumbed on the following day. He was buried at Dernancourt, near Albert. The letters received by his family afterwards showed that his cheery good nature and fine soldierly qualities were much appreciated in the regiment.