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George was a 26 year old single famer from Cleveland. On being enlisted he was allotted to ‘C’ Company.
On 12 April 1917 the 40th Battalion was in the trenches in the Armentieres area. On the afternoon and evening of that day a heavy bombardment developed into a barrage on ‘C’ Company’s sector. This was a prelude to a trench raid by the enemy which was later repulsed. The Battalion sustained a number of casualties and among them was Private George Smith who sustained gun shot wounds to his face.
After treatment in France he returned to the unit.
October 1917 saw the Battalion in action at Broodseinde as part of the Third Battle for Ypres. On this occasions he sustained a slight chest wound, but serious enough to be evacuated to England.
In late March 1918 the Battle were in action near Heilly, France and here he was wounded for the third time sustaining gun shot wounds to his legs. He was again evacuated to England for treatment. On 6 June 1918 his war was over having been boarded and departed England for home.
John was working as a motor mechanic when he enlisted in May 1918. He got as far as Freemantle when he was developed mumps. He was disembarked from the HMAT A14 Borda and placed in isolated for 25 days at Subiaco until 28 December 1918 when he left there to return to Tasmania and was later discharged.