Ernest Talbot SMITH

Regimental number13/1098
Date of birth15 September 1890
Place of birthBay of Islands
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarmer
AddressKaeo, Whangaroa
Marital statusSingle
Height5' 7"
Weight150 lbs
Next of kinFather, Henry Smith, Okaihau, Bay of Islands
Previous military serviceMember, Kaeo Rifle Club
Enlistment date11 February 1915
Rank on embarkationTrooper
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 5th Reinforcements, Auckland Mounted Rifles
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 13 June 1915
Final rankTrooper
Final unitAuckland Mounted Rifles Regiment
Discharge date17 May 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Posted to unit, Mudros, 3 October 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 27 December 1915 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Left Zeitoun for Canal Zone, 23 January 1916.

Admitted to 26th Casualty Clearing Station, Kantara, 20 September 1916 (dysentery); transferred to 31st General Hospital, Port Said, 23 September 1916; to 27th General Hospital, Cairo, 29 September 1916; to Aotea Convalescent Hospital, Heliopolis, 16 October 1916.

Transferred to NZ Mounted Rifles Brigade, 20 November 1916.

Sick to hospital, 31 December 1917; admitted to 45th Stationary Hospital, El Arish, from Hospital Train, 2 January 1918 (scabies); transferred to 26th Casualty Clearing Station, 3 January 1918; discharged to duty, 8 January 1918.

Posted to NZ Mounted Training Regiment, 10 January 1918; transferred to NZ Mounted Rifles Brigade, 15 May 1918; taken on strength, Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, in the field, 19 May 1918.

Admitted to NZ Mounted Field Ambulance, 17 October 1918 (pyrexia, unknown origin); transferred to 76th Casualty Clearing Station, 21 October 1918; to 27th General Hospital, Abbassia, 23 October 1918 (malaria); discharged to NZ Base, 8 November 1918.

Found guilty, 23 December 1918, of being in town without a pass: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Suez on board HMNZT 'Kaikoura', 6 March 1919; discharged (no longer physically fit for War Service: debility), 17 May 1919.

War service: 3 years 311 days

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Auckland Mounted Rifles/Fifth
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805